Skopje, 29 June 2022 (MIA) – Defense Minister Slavjanka Petrovska as part of Wednesday’s NATO Summit in Madrid was part of a panel on NATO’s Contribution to Security and Stability in its Neighbourhood, debating on the topic alongside  Portugal and Bulgaria’s Defense Ministers, Helena Carreiras and Dragomir Zakov, and Chair of NATO’s Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer. In her address, Petrovska pointed out that the NATO Summit was an excellent opportunity to send a message of unity of the democratic countries in defense of democracy and its values and defend rule-based international order, the Ministry of Defense said in a press release. “During the panel, the Minister discussed about the strengthening of long-term deterrence and defense of NATO, and in an age of strategic competition, she stressed that NATO and EU partnership is vital for security and prosperity in the Euro-Atlantic area, and the political dialogue between the two organizations remains essential for deepening this cooperation,” reads the press release. Commenting on the importance of the Western Balkans region, Petrovska stressed that the region is an important part of the European security architecture, adding that stability must not be taken for granted as a fact. Petrovska noted that Western Balkan countries are facing growing external influences, including hybrid threats, cuber attacks, information manipulation campaigns that contribute to fueling nationalism. “The Western Balkans is a very important part of European security and therefore, NATO together with the EU and other partners needs to continue to strengthen its defense system, make every effort to speed up reforms, and find innovative solutions to overcome outstanding issues to full Euro-Atlantic integration of the region. Now more than ever in the region’s Euro-Atlantic and EU integration, it is necessary to look at it as a tool for improving security, and the integration itself will directly contribute to the prevention of external hybrid influences,” Petrovska stressed. According to her, such discussions will make a strong contribution to finding appropriate mechanisms in responding to modern threats and challenges, as well as contribute to appropriate and swift adaptation of the Alliance for the next decade.