Skopje, 13 June 2022 (MIA) - Deputy Prime Minister in charge of good governance policies Slavica Grkovska met Monday with Gert Auväärt, the head of the Cyber Security Branch at the Estonian Information System Authority. “The digital transformation of society, technological advances, but also the geostrategic challenges in Europe and in the world imposes a completely new approach to the security system, in which cyber security plays a key role. Cyber security is a strategic issue, to which every country must have a coordinated approach, both domestically and internationally,” two officials underlined. They discussed the possibility of deepening cooperation between the two countries, especially in the field of cyber security, given that Estonia is a world leader in the digital transformation of society and ensuring safe and secure system, the government said in a press release. Deputy PM Grkovska said that in a security crisis caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, all countries, including North Macedonia, face the need to ensure digital security, so that systemic processes are not disrupted. Auväärt underscored the importance of creating efficient IT agencies consisted of experienced IT experts that will be responsible for digital processes in the state institutions. “This model in Estonia has proven to be very effective and has provided retention and motivation for IT engineers to work for state institutions," Auväärt said. Grkovska said that North Macedonia must take concrete steps in order to keep IT experts in the country, and stressed that the Estonian model could be a good example for this. During her two-day working visit to Tallinn, Deputy PM Grkovska also met Monday with Klen Jäärats, Director for EU Affairs at the Government Office of Estonia. At the meeting, Grkovska reaffirmed North Macedonia's commitment on opening EU accession talks. However, she added, the conditions imposed by Bulgaria, as an EU member state, despite the serious and difficult decisions made by North Macedonia in the past period, complicate the country’s EU path and reduce the optimism of Macedonian citizens. Jäärats voiced Estonia's unconditional support to North Macedonia for the start of accession talks, saying that interfering in history would not do anyone any good, adding that this applies to all of Europe. While in Tallinn, Deputy PM Grkovska is to take part in the Western Balkan Digital Security Forum along with EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi, Minister of Entrepreneurship and Information Technology of Estonia Andres Sutt, Minister of Information Society and Administration of North Macedonia Admirim Aliti, as well as leaders and experts of cybersecurity from Western Balkans and the EU. Deputy PM Grkovska will also visit the The NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, which provides interdisciplinary support to NATO member states, as well as expertise in the field of cyber defence research, training and exercises covering the focus areas of technology, strategy, operations and law.