Athens, 10 May 2023 (MIA) – Constitutional amendments are a matter of showing political maturity, because they involve decisions that are particularly important for the country's future, North Macedonia's Defense Minister Slavjanka Petrovska told MIA's Athens correspondent.

Petrovska is taking part in the International Defence and Security Exhibition DEFEA 2023, held May 9-11 in Athens. On the sidelines of the exhibition, the Defense Minister met with her Greek counterpart Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, and spoke to MIA about the bilateral defense cooperation with Greece, noting that it is at an exceptionally high level, about possibilities to further deepen it, about Greece's support to North Macedonia's EU membership, as well as about current issues in the country, including the constitutional amendments and those related to the "Divo Naselje" case. 

"I will only make one comment as regards the constitutional amendments: for me, they are not so much a question of whether there will be a two-thirds majority or counting MPs who will give their support, but are much more a question of showing political maturity, because they involve decisions that are particularly important for the country's future. All political parties, regardless of whether they are in power or opposition, must show their political maturity at a certain point and lead the people in making those decisions," Petrovska pointed out. 

At the meeting with the Greek Defense Minister, which lasted much longer than expected, Petrovska and Panagiotopoulos agreed that cooperation in the area of defense between the two countries since 2019 has really marked a significant improvement and is at an exceptionally high level. Talks also focused on new perspectives for deepening cooperation.

"So far, there are numerous exercises and joint activities between the armies of the two countries, where we participate together, regardless of whether it is on a bilateral level or with several other countries. It was particularly motivating at the exhibition to see many Greek companies presenting their products that are part of the most modern sophisticated armament equipment, so my Greek colleague and I talked about deepening cooperation between the two countries in that segment, which means using the capacities of the Greek military industry and what we can do in our country, and in particular we talked about sharing experience from using the instrument for the procurement of this type of sophisticated equipment through the well-known instrument Government to Government," Minister Petrovska said. 

In addition, the two discussed the European perspective both of North Macedonia and the rest of the countries in the region.  

"The European integration of the Republic of North Macedonia, as well as of the countries in the Balkans that have started the process, really needs to be accelerated, so as not to further complicate security in the region. Because the European countries should know that the countries in the Balkans belong to the European Union, and they have started that process and the citizens of those countries, as well as the governments, are doing their best to complete the process as sooner as possible. The Republic of Macedonia proved to be a serious partner in the European integration process, and we agreed that we deserve to be appropriately rewarded for that," said Petrovska. 

Though unrelated to Greece and the participation in the International Defence and Security Exhibition DEFEA 2023, Minister Petrovska also commented on another current issue in the country, i.e. scenarios on transfer to Kosovo of those convicted in the "Divo Naselje" case.

"I believe the decision of the Macedonian courts should be respected and that those convicted, in line with the procedure, in the court proceedings, should serve their sentence in the prisons in our country, where the crime was committed, and if there are any doubts regarding conditions or circumstances in which they serve their sentence, I believe it is the job of each and every one of us to work to overcome such challenges or problems that arise, and not to bypass them," said the Defense Minister.