Skopje, 4 December 2024 (MIA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski participated in the second day of the meetings of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Brussels. 

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the meeting focused on key issues for the security of the Euro-Atlantic region in the context of current security challenges. 

"The meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers was an excellent opportunity to review the status of the implementation of the decisions taken at the NATO summit in Washington, as well as to define priorities within the preparations for the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague, which will be held next year. In this regard, Minister Mucunski highlighted the necessity of continuing to create policies and positions that will enable an adequate response to common challenges and threats, in order to preserve Euro-Atlantic security and stability. He particularly stressed the need to further build individual and joint resilience to respond to the challenges of malignant threats and growing hybrid activities targeting our societies," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade said in a press release. 

In addition, Minister Mucunski stressed the importance of the Western Balkans region, which NATO recognizes as strategically important, pointing out that NATO and the EU should strengthen their activities to support the European and Euro-Atlantic integration processes in the countries in the region. These processes, he noted, are the best way to close the security vacuum that could be exploited by malignant actors.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Minister Mucunski met with Canadian Foreign Minister, Mélanie Joly. Talks reaffirmed excellent bilateral relations between the two countries. Interlocutors discussed further development of bilateral relations, particularly economic cooperation, business relations and trade, highlighting in this context the significant role and contribution of the Macedonian diaspora in Canada.  

Talks also focused on cooperation within multilateral organizations. The two ministers expressed their joint commitment to further strengthening the alliance within NATO, with particular emphasis on the joint contribution to strengthening the Alliance's eastern flank. 

Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade