Skopje, 18 August 2021 (MIA) – Defence Minister Radmila Shekerinska, who is paying a visit to Turkey, met with the Minister of National Defence, Hulusi Akar, to sign a five-year agreement for military and financial cooperation, backed by the countries’ governments. The agreement, the Ministry of Defence said in a press release, entails annual allocation of finances from Turkey to North Macedonia, set to be used to enhance combat capacities, procure equipment and modernize the Army. “North Macedonia and Turkey are not only strategic partners, but also friends who hold themselves in high regard and have been cooperating for almost three decades,” Minister Shekerinska said. The military and financial cooperation agreement, she said, is yet another confirmation of the friendship and cooperation strengthened as part of NATO and will be of great help to improve the standards and combat readiness of North Macedonia’s Army as 30^th NATO member, said the press release. Welcoming the signing of the agreement, Turkish Minister Akar said he expects swift and successful implementation. Discussing climate change, the outbreak of wildfires in the two countries and the floods that hit Turkey, which claimed lives, the ministers expressed regret over the loses urging solutions to alleviating the consequences from climate change to be found. North Macedonia’s Army was strongly engaged in helping putting out fires in the country, Shekerinska told her Turkish counterpart. “Natural disasters that have gripped the whole region are already turning into a security issue and defence policies needs to be adjusted accordingly,” she said. Turkey and North Macedonia have been fostering strong relations and partnership since the latter’s declaration of independence. The two countries both took part in the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan, said the press release. As part of the SEDM initiative, North Macedonia and Turkey are cooperating in the South-Eastern Europe Brigade (SEEBRIG), which is currently hosted by North Macedonia.