Skopje, 4 April 2023 (MIA) - We are providing help and support to North Macedonia that is facing different types of hybrid and cyber threats. The support that NATO and Allies are ready to provide to North Macedonia includes technical support and stronger cooperation to fight disinformation, says NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

At a press conference ahead of the meeting of NATO foreign ministers, Stoltenberg was quizzed by TV21 on the type of support that North Macedonia is getting from the Alliance in coping with the problem of hybrid threats and false bomb threats, to which the Secretary-General said a set of different steps was agreed between the Government and NATO officials during their recent visit to Skopje.

"These steps are both short and longer term, which NATO and Allies can take to support North Macedonia in defending against the hybrid campaign it is facing. I actually also discussed this with the Prime Minister of North Macedonia recently and, of course, NATO is there to help and support Allies as we now provide help and support to North Macedonia that is facing different types of hybrid and cyber threats. The support that NATO and Allies are ready to provide to North Macedonia includes technical support and stronger cooperation to fight disinformation. And I would like to also commend the government of North Macedonia for the quick and detailed work in developing the cooperation programme we have agreed," said Stoltenberg.

A NATO expert team led by Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy James Appathurai paid a visit to Skopje in early March. On that occasion, Appathurai said North Macedonia is not dealing alone with this problem and has NATO's support.

Photo: MIA archive