Skopje, 5 November 2024 (MIA) - Addressing a high-level conference on behalf of the 75th anniversary of the creation of NATO entitled “NATO – 75 Years of Unity, fostering Cooperation and ensuring Collective Defence: Security Challenges for Europe”, Minister of Defense Vlado Misajlovski said the Ministry considers all security challenges that exist, and as a NATO member it is important to cooperate with all partners and modernize the Army, regarding which a defense budget of over 2 percent of GDP will be set this year.

He added that on Tuesday, the Government will convene a closed session on a new aid package for Ukraine. 

"We will continue to help, that's what friends do. The support does not end here, we will continue in the coming period, of course, what we can help with, but also keep what we need. As the fourth contributing country to NATO, we must continue to help, but we must also look to modernize our Army. It is one of our obligations as a NATO member, i.e. to develop the light infantry battalion group. Many projects are ahead of us next year, huge agreements to be completed, including the one on light armoured vehicles with the United States. It is one of the better projects regarding which serious funds should be allocated from the budget. These are the JLTV vehicles and the strikers, some of which have arrived and next year they will all arrive, and they will be a great contribution to the Army. We also have several agreements on air defense, on howitzers, which will really help modernize the Army. It is very important because we have an obligation as a NATO member to achieve both qualitative and quantitative goals. But all this is related to the budget, and I am glad that the budget will be over 2 percent next year, which is very important for defense," said Misajlovski.

He pointed out that these are major investments in terms of ​​modernization, as well as in terms of ​​improving human resources, expressing satisfaction that for the first time all the obligations under the Collective Agreement are being met in order to improve the spirit in the Army, one of the institutions which, according to him, enjoys the highest reputation in the country.

"At the end of the day it all depends on how successful an Army you have. We are a small Army, but we are big at heart, we help as much as we can, but we also need the support of our friends... The Army is the first line of defense. We will continue to invest as much as possible, as long as I am the Minister of Defense, I will make my utmost contribution to improve all conditions in the Army. What is most important is to have as many friends as possible and to have as good a relationship as possible with all EU members because the collective security in Europe is also related to our security here in the country," the Minister of Defense said, adding that by achieving the longstanding EU membership aspiration, collective security will also improve. 

German Ambassador Petra Drexler said unity is what makes the Alliance strong, and the success achieved testifies to that. In the context of the war in Ukraine, she pointed out that it is also a test of the Alliance's solidarity.

"We are aware that this is not just a war against Ukraine, but a test of our solidarity, our friendship and trust. Trust is one of the most important elements we have and must maintain within our unity. Does keeping the Western Balkans outside the EU undermine trust, that is what we as members of the EU and members of the NATO Alliance are focusing on, i.e. on building trust, maintaining trust between us and ensuring that attempts to undermine our Alliance by creating mistrust are not successful," said Ambassador Drexler. 

Professor and ELIAMEP head Ioannis Armakolas highlighted among other the importance of the region's trust in the EU. In the past, he said, Western Balkans societies had more trust in the EU, trust that has declined and has been declining in the past 20 years. He added that there are also many actors who have autonomous policies that are in contrast to the Western ones. According to him, a certain cohesion is needed which was previously thought to be readily given, but which no longer has such foundations.    

In the context of the security situation, Minister Misajlovski pointed out that it is stable and at the highest level, "but we should always be prepared for the threat of radical structures, as well as possible migrant waves due to the events in the Middle East. In that context, exchange of security and intelligence information with NATO partners is important".

Participants in the event stressed the importance of today's elections in the United States, one of the most important NATO members, noting that the cohesion and readiness of NATO cannot be maintained without the United States. That is why the outcome of the elections in the United States will be significant and will have its effect on the future of NATO as an organization. 

Minister of Foreign Policy and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski addressed the conference via video link, and top state officials, representatives of the international community, experts in the field of defense, security and international relations from the country, as well as from the region were also in attendance.  

The high-level conference on behalf of the 75th anniversary of the creation of NATO entitled “NATO – 75 Years of Unity, fostering Cooperation and ensuring Collective Defence: Security Challenges for Europe” is organized by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade with support of the sister foundation from Brussels, the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies. 

Photo: MIA