Skopje, 16 January 2024 (MIA) - Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani and British Ambassador to North Macedonia Matthew Lawson addressed participants in the NATO Advanced Course within the project on strengthening the NATO capacities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), supported by the United Kingdom.  

Addressing the participants, Osmani extended gratitude for the continued British support in mentoring and capacity building, the Foreign Ministry said in a press release. 

"I am glad that other institutions also benefited from this project, which is also its goal - to create institutional and individual awareness that the engagement, commitment and contribution to NATO should be sustainable in the future. As a NATO member country, it is particularly important to present ourselves as a credible partner to our NATO allies, and this is possible through capacity building and investment in human capital," Osmani pointed out. 

Ambassador Lawson expressed satisfaction with the opportunity to present the certificates together with Minister Osmani to officials of state institutions who have completed the NATO course supported by the United Kingdom.

"The course was aimed at providing advice, support and strengthening the capacities and capabilities in NATO-relevant institutions, in order to get the most out of their engagement through sustainable policies, processes and procedures within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other institutions at the level of the government," Ambassador Lawson said, adding that the course is aligned with NATO values ​​and standards for effective and democratic civilian governance in the security sector.

He noted that the British support to North Macedonia as close NATO partners and allies will continue in the future.

The implementation of the project is focused on strengthening human potential, NATO policies, as well as the processes and obligations arising from the NATO membership, which should enable a long-term and substantial contribution of the country as a member of the Alliance.

Osmani and Lawson, adds the press release, welcomed the recent establishment of the Council for Coordination of Activities Related to NATO Membership, which is composed of all relevant institutions involved in the process of implementing the obligations of the membership in the NATO Alliance, announcing that its inaugural session will be held soon.

Photo: MFA