"The Macedonian Army is not only a guarantor of the peace and security of the country. It is also an active contributor to the strengthening of regional and collective security, and the defence heavily invests in the development of the Army's capabilities," said Minister Vlado Misajlovski at today's ministerial meeting in Brdo, Slovenia, in the format of Ministers of Defence of the Central European Defence Cooperation and the Western Balkans.
Minister Misajlovski also focused on the overall investments in defence and the activities related to the defence and security.
"With an investment of 2 percent in the defence budget and strong investments in military mobility through the construction of corridors 8 and 10, the country not only fully accomplishes its obligations to the joint Alliance, but also strengthens the security and stability of the wider region on the ground," said Misajlovski, adding that "we consider military mobility to be one of the key factors enabling European and Euro-Atlantic security".
In the context of European support, Minister Misajlovski mentioned the fourth European package which, for the first time, includes activities for the infrastructure development of the "Krivolak" army training ground, which is an exceptionally important resource for training and exercises for the Macedonian Army, the allies, and partners.
In his address, Misajlovski referred to the need for continuous strengthening of regional security, emphasizing: "A stable Balkans means a stable Europe," referencing the NATO KFOR mission in Kosovo and the EU ALTHEA mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as part of which Macedonian soldiers also contribute, and added that over the years the region has transformed from a consumer to a peace, stability, and security provider.
"The integration of the Western Balkan countries into the defence initiatives of the European Union will further strengthen regional stability and the overall security of Europe," said Misajlovski in the context of defence cooperation in Central Europe and the Western Balkans, adding that the country "supports greater involvement of Balkan partners in relevant defence initiatives and instruments of the European Union."
Today, Minister Misajlovski also participated in the meeting in the format of the Balkan Medical Task Force contributing nations, where he spoke about the success of this initiative, but also about the need to make decisions that will increase the visibility of these regional forces.
"The member nations of the Balkan Medical Task Force are entering a period in which concrete steps are needed to assume greater responsibility. Security developments affect the priorities of the BMTF partners, with the focus increasingly shifting toward other regions. That is precisely why it is now necessary to collectively show and clearly express strong will, commitment, and a vision for the further development of the BMTF," said Misajlovski. He confirmed that our country supports the idea of exploring possibilities for the BMTF to contribute outside the Balkan region as well, which will require a positive approach, collective will, and commitment from all member nations.
