Skopje, 4 October 2023 (MIA) – Army Chief of Staff, Lieutenant-General Vasko Gjurchinovski attended Wednesday the meeting of Chiefs of Staff of the armies of the Defence Cooperation Initiative (DECI) in Zagreb, Croatia, where he marked North Macedonia formally joining the security initiative.

Following an introductory address from the Croatian Minister of Defence, Mario Banožić, the meeting was opened by the Chief of the Defense Staff of Italy, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, who noted that North Macedonia becoming a part of DECI will be useful and important for the future functioning of the security initiative.

“At the meeting, which was attended by the commanders of the NATO Allied Joint Force Command Naples, KFOR, EUFOR Althea, and the command of the Multinational Land Force (MLF), through expert discussions several current topics affecting security in the region are being reviewed, as well as the role of these NATO and EU operations when it comes to strengthening regional stability,” said the General Staff of the Macedonian Army in a press release.

During the meeting they discussed the opportunities for capacity building, strengthening joint training and cooperation, the inclusion and impact of the initiative in international security organizations and the promotion of support for joint projects, including the contribution to the multinational command and military structures of NATO and EU.

“By joining this security initiative, we once again affirm our commitment to strengthening cooperation and security on a regional level, as a condition for unobstructed prosperity of the region,” said Gjurchinovski at the first panel discussion.

At the end of the meeting, the chiefs of staff will determine the future dynamics of activities and meetings, and sign a joint statement and conceptual framework.

Photo: General Staff of the Army of North Macedonia