Skopje, 5 July 2024 (MIA) - We are grateful to NATO for recognizing the Western Balkans as a region of strategic importance for the Alliance. We firmly believe that continuing the close coordination and joint activities of NATO and EU in the region are crucial, primarily through the acceleration of the European and Euro-Atlantic integration processes, thus strengthening stability and closing the vacuum that can be used for destabilizing influence by third parties, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Timcho Mucunski told Friday's NATO working breakfast ahead of next week's NATO Summit in Washington.

Ambassadors of NATO member-states, Ukraine, Japan and the EU attended the working breakfast, at which FM Mucunski highlighted the support for the efforts of the international community, especially the role of EU and US in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, while expressing concern over the latest developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"Distrust among ethnic communities and rising separatist threats undermine stability. We should invest all of our efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region," said Mucunski.

He added that cyberattacks, disinformation, influence by third parties are challenges that should be in the focus of attention, affecting all countries in the area.

The FM said important decisions on NATO's future will be taken at the Washington summit, in order to respond to the new security circumstances.

"Allies will act upon the decisions from Madrid and Vilnius and usher a new area in its collective defense. My country is ready to continue to meet its obligations," said Mucunski and added that the two-percent threshold for defense spending has already been achieved, with almost 30 percent of the amount intended for modernization and equipment.

Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski will head the Macedonian delegation, which is set to meet with partners from the Indo-Pacific region and discuss the enlargement of cooperation and joint efforts to maintain peace and stability in the respective areas.

"The Russian aggression against Ukraine has altered Europe's security environment and has broader implications in global terms. We firmly believe that every country has the right to decide on its foreign policy and defense engagement. By making the right decisions at the summit, we hope that we will ensure Ukraine's survival as a sovereign country, keeping its freedom, independence, and territorial integrity its recognized borders," said Mucunski.

He underlined that the country will continue to provide support to Ukraine, as it has done since the start of the aggression in February 2022.

Photo: MFA