Skopje, 4 April 2025 (MIA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Timcho Mucunski, attended on Thursday and Friday a NATO ministerial meeting in Brussels. 

Participants in the meeting highlighted the importance of the Western Balkans as a region of strategic significance for NATO and the European Union, with an emphasis on the need to accelerate EU integration of the region as an essential element for regional and European stability, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade said in a press release. 

Ministers reaffirmed the importance of the strategic partnership between the two organizations and their complementarity in efforts to ensure lasting peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area.

"The ministers stressed that a stronger European pillar within a strong NATO Alliance will contribute to further strengthening transatlantic stability. In this regard, they welcomed the new EU initiatives to strengthen defence capabilities, stressing the need to involve non-EU NATO allies," reads the press release. 

In addition, participants in the meeting expressed strong support for the U.S. efforts to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine through diplomacy and dialogue. Commitments to increase defence spending and strengthen capacities and capabilities for building collective security and defence were also reaffirmed, with the aim of more effectively responding to common threats and challenges.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Minister Mucunski held brief bilateral meetings with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, as well as with counterparts from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Romania, Germany, Italy and Montenegro. Talks focused on issues related to regional stability, security and peace.

Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade