Today (5 October), at the Ministry of Defence, State Secretary Elizabeta Chupovska Ristova met with the NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, Ambassador Kevin Hamilton, with whom she discussed political and security developments in the region, as well as the Macedonian contribution to strengthening regional security, visible through the participation of Macedonian soldiers in the Alliance's KFOR mission in Kosovo.
"Regional security remains in our focus. Macedonian soldiers will continue to make a personal contribution to the NATO KFOR mission, just as they do within the multinational NATO forces in Romania and Bulgaria. The country is a committed ally that actively contributes to strengthening NATO's collective security," said the State Secretary.
Chupovska Ristova also referred to investments in the defence, noting that the Army has entered an intensive process of modernization and equipping, in accordance with national priorities and NATO capability targets. This year, one-third of the defence budget has been allocated for new and modern equipment, interoperable with our NATO allies.
At the meeting, Ambassador Hamilton was also briefed on the processes for reviewing key defence documents, which would enable the defence development process to adapt to the new geopolitical reality.
NATO Deputy Assistant General Hamilton expressed his appreciation for the contribution that the Army makes in strengthening collective defence and regional stability.
