Shtip, 16 March 2024 (MIA) — The decision to purchase eight helicopters from the Italian company Leonardo was made by professionals and it is the right one, Minister of Defense Slavjanka Petrovska said Saturday in Shtip, where she attended an event marking the fourth anniversary of the country's joining NATO and the Alliance's 75th anniversary.

"Absolutely no doubt about it," she said. "There are some structures in the Republic of North Macedonia who view the modernization process as a threat to themselves, and not to the state [but] I don't agree that this is a waste of money."

"It's very easy to lay blame or come up with conspiracy theories," she said.

"If there are any suspicions of a corruption scandal, I am fully prepared to face the evidence, if there is any. I am sure there is no evidence because I believe the decision made by our integrated project team was correct," Petrovska said.

"As for the specific company, bear in mind that we signed a government-to-government agreement. Accusing any company [of corruption] also means accusing the Government of the Republic of Italy of being part of a corruption scandal. This is diplomatically impermissible," she added.

She explained that the procurement offer was accepted because, in addition to the helicopters, it included the appropriate model for their long-term maintenance. "Because maintenance is also a serious, significant process [you should consider] when you buy a piece of equipment," she noted.

She said the company had offered to build, at its own expense, a storage facility for the helicopters as well as their simpler maintenance and staff training.

The helicopters and the new facility will be part of the Wing Air Brigade in Petrovec. Petrovska said the procurement procedure had started in 2019 and the cost was around EUR 230 million, planned in this year's national budget. mr/