Skopje, 18 May 2023 (MIA) - Army Chief of Staff, Lieutenant-General Vasko Gjurchinovski is participating ат the 16th B-9 Forum of Balkan Army Chiefs of Staff in Sofia on Thursday, the Ministry of Defense said in a press release.

The conference themed "Regional military connectivity and military mobility, as a focus in partnerships in the Balkans in search for innovative ways of integration and cooperation," discusses further enlargement of military cooperation in order to improve regional security. Army Chiefs of Staff presented annual reports from the permanent working groups in the area of asymmetrical threats, military education, training and coordination, as well as the planned activities for 2024, reads the press release.

Lieutenant-General Gjurchinovski referred to the significance of this forum "which, as one of the pillars of joint military cooperation, has a significant role in regional security." Speaking about the current security challenges, he emphasized the importance of promoting mutual military cooperation.

At the end of the conference, Chiefs of Staff will release a joint statement, confirming the commitment to expand and strengthen military cooperation amid the current security challenges, as well as finding ways and opportunities to advance mutual strategic activities which are of interest to regional security.

The forum included Army Chiefs of Staff from North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Turkey, Montenegro, and Croatia and Slovenia as observer countries. Special guests at the conference are European Union Military Committee Commander and Deputy Commander of the Allied Joint Force Command Naples.

The purpose of Forum B-9 is strengthening military cooperation of Balkan countries by finding a way to jointly resolve security challenges, risks, and threats in the region. Most of the conference's activities consist of coordinating a joint training and education, through the activities to reach the necessary level of interoperability, which will allow for joint activities in different situations.

The B-9 Forum was founded on the initiative of Greece and Turkey by having Army Chiefs of Staff from Balkan countries sign a joint declaration in Brussels, on 10 May 2007.

The forum included Army Chiefs of Staff from North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Turkey, Montenegro, and Croatia and Slovenia as observer countries. Special guests at the conference are European Union Military Committee Commander and Deputy Commander of the Allied Joint Force Command Naples.

The purpose of Forum B-9 is strengthening military cooperation of Balkan countries by finding a way to jointly resolve security challenges, risks, and threats in the region. Most of the conference's activities consist of coordinating a joint training and education, through the activities to reach the necessary level of interoperability, which will allow for joint activities in different situations.

The B-9 Forum was founded on the initiative of Greece and Turkey by having Army Chiefs of Staff from Balkan countries sign a joint declaration in Brussels, on 10 May 2007.

Photo: Ministry of Defense