Skopje, 27 October 2023 (MIA) - Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani, who is paying an official visit to Finland, and Director of the Helsinki-based European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats, Teija Tiilikainen, signed on Friday a memorandum on accession to the Centre, officially making North Macedonia the 35th Participating State of Hybrid CoE.   

Osmani pointed out that North Macedonia is joining the Centre at a time when hybrid threats pose an unprecedented challenge both globally and locally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release. 

"For North Macedonia, participation in Hybrid CoE represents a huge step towards strengthening national resilience and advancing collective efforts to counter these increasing challenges. We are honoured to join as the 35th country, and are eagerly looking forward to collaborating and sharing experiences with the other Participating States, the EU and NATO. Our aim is not only to make a valuable contribution to the activities of Hybrid CoE but also, through collective efforts and mutual support, to effectively address all security challenges within the complex and ever-evolving realm of hybrid threats,” Osmani added.

He noted that North Macedonia, as NATO member, works actively and continuously to improve the prevention, response and handling of threats to critical infrastructure and key resources from the public and private sectors, with significant support and assistance from allies and partner countries. In addition, the Centre can serve as a platform for enhanced bilateral and multilateral cooperation with EU participating countries, in all segments and domains of its activities, which will be significant for the process of the country's further integration in the EU.

The European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats was formally established in 2017 and operates under the auspices of EU and NATO. It is a network-based international and independent hub for practitioners and experts focusing on responses to hybrid threats. Hybrid CoE’s mission is to strengthen its Participating States’ and organizations’ security by providing expertise and training for countering hybrid threats.

Photi: Foreign Ministry