Defence Minister meets Macedonian PM and Defence Minister

Following the welcome meeting with the Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski on Wednesday 12 June 2013, Minister  Kotromanović met with his Macedonian counterpart, Talat Xhaferi.

The topics discussed by the two ministers included bilateral defence co-operation, the situation in the region and the regional defence initiatives, as well as joint develpment of defence capabilities and co-operation oriented on modernisation of the respective Armed Forces. Due attention was also given to the prospects of the ISAF Operation, where the Republic of Macedonia participates within the Croatian contingent.

“Macedonia too belongs to the NATO Alliance“, was the message by the Croatian Minister to the Macedonian colleagues. The Minister also commended the co-operation with the Macedonian side in the Military Police School in Kabul, and highlighted the possibility of joint presence in Afghanistan following 2014.

The agenda of the bilateral meeting was the common participation in the Balkan Regional Approach to Air Defence (BRAAD), within the NATO’s Smart Defence initiative.  Both delegations shared the view that successful conduct of the project would add to the overall project-oriented co-operation of the A-5 countries and would assist the entire region build the required air defence capabilities. They also expressed the hope for a multilateral  agreement among the A-5 countries formalised within the shortest term possible.
The two sides placed the emphasis on development of military-technical co-operation as a prominent aspect of the bilateral defence co-operation. It was suggested that defence industries of the two countries should intensify their co-operation, particularly with regard of modernisation of the Armed Forces.

The Minister’s visit to the Republic of Macedonia also includes the US-Adriatic Charter Ministerial on 13 and 14 June 2013, which is to discuss the regional defence initiatives, continued support to Euro-Atlantic integration and implementation of regional security co-operation projects within the Smart Defence initiative.

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