Skopje, 25 August 2021 (MIA) – North Macedonia as a NATO member state started at the end of 2020 to contribute to the Alliance’s mission in Kosovo. Our joint mission, one that we share with Kosovo’s government, is to ensure the safety and stability of the entire region, with the aim of having a joint European and Euro-Atlantic future. This is the future we want for our citizens, one that they fully deserve, Defence Minister Radmila Shekerinska said after meeting with Kosovo counterpart Armend Mehaj. “North Macedonia supports the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue and reaching a solution that will guarantee the peace, stability, security and progress, not just of these two countries, but of the entire region. At the same time, we’ve given out full support to the open door policy within regional associations and organizations and we hope that Kosovo’s participation in them will contribute to a more open spirit for finding solutions for all future issues in the region,” Shekerinska underlined. Minister Shekerinska also discussed cooperation in the area of military education. “In 2012 we saw your decision to send some of your nationals to study at our military academy as a gesture of friendship and good neighbourly relations, but also as a gesture of your trust in us. At the moment, four Kosovo cadets are enrolled at the academy, three of who are young and ambitious girls,” the Minister said, adding that they are excellent and committed students. Moreover, she stressed that bilateral cooperation has continued to improve. “We signed the memorandum of understanding for cooperation against fake news and disinformation. In the past, our only enemies were military forces, but now it’s disinformation that can harm our health, safety and the region. Therefore, I expect this document and improving public relations to signal good regional cooperation and present a way for us to help each other,” Shekerinska underlined. Minister Shekerinska also briefed that North Macedonia has for the past two years been one of the most active and transparent counties in the region. “North Macedonia’s Defence Ministry has been declared the country’s most transparent institution two years in a row. Transparency International ranked us second in Central and Eastern Europe, far above some NATO and EU members. We define active transparency as an instrument against fake news. Often, that’s not enough, but the public has a right to know and it’s the only way to be one step ahead of fake news creators,” she said. The Defence Ministry, Shekerinska added, has already established NATO capacities for realization of trainings in the area of public relations and is making progress in setting up a center for fighting fake news and disinformation. “The memorandum entails special public relations and disinformation management courses, that will also be at the disposal of Kosovo’s Defence Ministry. They will be created by our NATO center and the Public Affairs Regional Center. One of them will be held here in Skopje and the other in Kosovo,” the Minister said. She added that it makes sense for the two countries to help and support each other, stressing that the memorandum is just one step towards enhancing defence cooperation. Shekerinska also expressed hopes for holding a joint government session in September, which, she underlined, will send the message that the region has learned from its past mistakes and is looking forward to full integration into European and Euro-Atlantic institutions.