Skopje, 5 May 2023 (MIA) – As part of his official visit to the Army of North Macedonia and the Ministry of Defense, Italian Armed Forces (IAF) Chief of Staff, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, met Friday with his host, Lieutenant-General Vasko Gjurchinovski and Minister of Defense Slavjanka Petrovska.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Defense, at the meeting, Defense Minister Petrovska voiced satisfaction with the successful defense cooperation between North Macedonia and Italy, and assessed the Admiral’s visit as an excellent opportunity for specifying ways to deepen the cooperation.

“North Macedonia and Italy are allied countries who share the same position over Europe’s security and the same values and principles – democracy, rule of law, and respect for the international order,” said Petrovska.

Petrovska and Cavo Dragone spoke about the situation in Ukraine, the right of the country to defend its territory and sovereignty and welcomed the expansion of NATO with its new member state – Finland.

The Defense Minister stressed the importance of stable investment in the modernization and equipping of the Army, but also in human capacities, as an uncompromising commitment to boosting defense. Petrovska and Cavo Dragone agreed that cooperation between allies in the context of the new security situation in Europe is of great importance.

The meeting was followed by a thematic meeting in the General Staff of the Army, during which the mission and current processes of the Army were presented, and talks were held over joint participation in international operations; intensifying mutual military cooperation; possible cooperation in the field of special forces, as well as participation in security initiatives with the support of the IAF.

General Gjurchinovski noted the importance of intensifying mutual military cooperation and further development of initiatives initiated during his visit to the IAF in 2022.

“Italy’s constant support for our more intensive inclusion within NATO structure, as well as support in the area of military education and training in specific areas, are of great importance for our Army. Additionally, the current trust created as a result of the joint participation in international operations where Italy plays a leading role is constantly being strengthened,” said Gjurchinovski.

Admiral Cavo Dragone voiced the IAF's unreserved support for increasing interoperability and the Macedonian Army’s inclusion within NATO activities and security initiatives in which Italy is participating.

Apart from support in the area of military education and training by the IAF, Macedonian staff officers are carrying out tasks as part of the Italian Contingent in the UNIFIL Mission in Lebanon, as well as KFOR and the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence operation in Bulgaria.

“The visit of the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Italy, one of the largest and most influential European countries in NATO, represents a clear expression of trust and recognition for the standards and interoperability achieved by the members of the Macedonian Army who are taking part in joint activities and represent a foundation for further strengthening of mutual relations in the field of defense,” said the Ministry of Defense in the press release.