New York, 24 September 2022 (MIA) – Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani took part at a meeting on global cyber security hosted by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, held at the sidelines of the 77th United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday. Discussions focused on security challenges in the cyber area as a serious threat to the existing international order, along with the need for effective multilateral response and strategic exchange of information and experiences, especially among NATO allies, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release. FM Osmani referred to the cyber-challenges that North Macedonia has faced, saying countries of the Western Balkans have been exposed to cyber-attacks, especially after the start of the Russian invasion in Ukraine. He also talked about the hybrid threats and malicious cyber activities aimed to destabilize countries and bring insecurity among citizens. “The national cyber security strategy is one of the pillars in strengthening the cyber defense capacities, protecting the critical IT infrastructure, and improving the awareness on IT security. North Macedonia has continually collaborated with all stakeholders – businesses, researchers, academic community, and civil society – to find common solutions for these challenges,” said Osmani.