State Secretary Chupovska Ristova opened the regional workshop on strengthening the capacities for investigating, prosecuting, and adjudicating CBRN incidents in the Western Balkans

The State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence, Elizabeta Chupovska Ristova, today (1 December) addressed the opening of the regional project titled “Strengthening Capacities for Investigating, Prosecuting, and Adjudicating CBRN Incidents in the Western Balkans”, a training under the auspices of the EU Centres of Excellence for CBRN Risk Mitigation and the European Commission’s Foreign Policy Instruments. The opening was also addressed by Ben Nupnau from the European Union Delegation and Talgat Toleubayev, Regional Coordinator of the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute.

State Secretary Chupovska Ristova stated that successful countering of CBRN incidents depends on the flawless cooperation between institutions, professionals in the field, and states.

“We need investigators who can secure and analyze sensitive evidence; laboratories that provide accurate and timely results; law enforcement structures that act safely and efficiently; and judicial institutions that ensure a fair, informed, and legal process”, said the State Secretary.

Chupovska Ristova thanked the organizers, partner institutions, and experts who contribute to this key activity, and at the same time underlined that our country “remains fully committed to active participation in such regional projects, recognizing their importance in strengthening both national and regional resilience”.

The project, which in addition to our country also includes Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, enters its second phase with the activity in Skopje, namely a simulation of a court trial, where the theoretical segment will be linked to the actual practice. In its first phase, during the activity in Sarajevo, participants gained theoretical and analytical knowledge regarding procedures and approaches to investigation, prosecution, and adjudication of CBRN incidents.