Skopje, 17 February 2024 (MIA) - President Stevo Pendarovski participated late Friday in the debate titled “Is there a Western Balkans in the house? Mapping the blueprint of the new European security architecture” during the 60th Munich Security Conference, organized by Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP) and Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP).

In the discussion, President Pendarovski addressed the current situation in the Western Balkans region, the consequences in the context of security events in Europe caused by Russian aggression towards Ukraine, as well as the future of the region regarding upcoming challenges. The President pointed out that in the interest of peace and stability in Europe, it is necessary to maintain cohesion within the Euro-Atlantic area and the process of European Union enlargement.

"In that regard, the need for accelerated and unhindered integration of the Western Balkan countries was reaffirmed as a crucial factor not only for political processes and reform agendas but also for overall security. It was emphasized that, amidst multiplied crises and weakened security architecture, greater European presence in the region is vital for the stability of the Western Balkans," the President's Office said in a press release.

In the context of security crises, opinions were exchanged regarding the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, as well as its global implications.

The discussion included Ambassador Rainer Rudolph, Vice-Chairman of the Munich Security Conference (MSC), Austrian Minister for European Affairs Karoline Edtstadler, Kiril Petkov, former Prime Minister of Bulgaria and current member of the Bulgarian Parliament, Lord Stuart Peach, the United Kingdom's Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Albanian Minister of Defense Niko Peleshi, OSCE Secretary-General Helga Schmidt, Stefano Sannino, Secretary-General of the European External Action Service, French delegate Benjamin Haddad, Daniela Schwarzer from the Bertelsmann Foundation, Majlinda Bregu, Secretary-General of the Regional Cooperation Council, Thomas Greminger, Director of the Geneva Center for Security Policy (GCSP), Alexander Chali, collaborator at the Geneva Center for Security Policy, Majda Ruge from the European Council on Foreign Relations, and Srdjan Cvijic from the Belgrade Center for Security Policy (BCSP).

Photo: Office of the President