Skopje, 13 June 2023 (MIA) – North Macedonia has made a serious step forward, and from a country that in the past was known for various crises and constantly sought aid, it has now become a NATO member state and is seriously and surely on its path to fulfill its second strategic goal – EU membership. The political investment in our country, and all the support from the United States, has really paid off, stressed Minister of Defence Slavjanka Petrovska in an interview for the Voice of America.

In the interview, Petrovska touches upon several topics, such as North Macedonia’s role in the region’s security and NATO’s collective security, regional stability in the context of the situation in Kosovo, the country’s position on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the donations to the Ukrainian army, as well as the modernization process of the Macedonian Army and gender equality in defense.

Regarding the modernization of the Army, the Minister said the process is ongoing and the second delivery of JLTV Oshkosh armored vehicles has already arrived. She said the Army’s NATO unit should be fully equipped, in line with the highest standards, by the end of 2025. On the acquisition of new helicopters, Petrovska said the evaluation process of the received offers has been completed, and they concern multifunctional helicopters, that will fill the Army’s capacities and be capable of responding to the needs of the citizens during various civil missions.

Petrovska touched upon gender equality in defense, voicing her satisfaction that the number of women in the Army has been doubled in around a decade, and expressed hope that soon the President will appoint the first female general of the Army.

“I am glad that women hold important positions in the Army, not because they are women but because their quality is undisputable. Recently I appointed a woman as a colonel of one of the sections at the General Staff, and I hope that very soon, the President will appoint the first woman general – not because the time has come, but because there really are women who deserve to hold this post in the Army,” underlined Petrovska.

Regarding the situation in the region and Kosovo, she expressed regret over the tensions and attacks, especially on NATO’s troops, which, she said, “have a single goal – to establish peace.”

“The clear message of the U.S., several allies and the EU, is that we don’t want to see new hotspots in the Balkans, and we should focus on the European integration of the countries, because the future of all nations of the Balkans is precisely there – in the EU, or the EU and NATO,” said the Minister.

In the context of the Russian invasion on Ukraine, Petrovska said North Macedonia’s position is that Ukraine has a right to defend itself, and that North Macedonia, “as a member of the civilized, democratic and modern world, has a moral obligation to help.” Regarding the help provided to Ukraine, she said it concerns equipment the Macedonian Army no longer needs, 

Photo: Ministry of Defense