Skopje, 13 July 2021 (MIA) – Trust between North Macedonia and Greece is rising by the day, agreed Defense Minister Radmila Shekerinska and Greek counterpart Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos at a meeting at the sidelines of an International Defense and Security Exhibition in Athens on Tuesday. “Our 2021 bilateral cooperation agreement shows that we are moving in the right direction. About 70 activities confirm that North Macedonia and Greece have opened a new chapter of alliance in the interest of both countries and the entire region,” said Minister Shekerinska. She said the two countries also cooperate within the South-Eastern Europe Brigade (SEEBRIG), hosted by North Macedonia, and currently headed by a Greek commander, the Ministry of Defense said in a press release. Shekerinska and Panagiotopoulos highlighted the cooperation in the NATO air policing mission as a signal of unity and trust between the two countries. Panagiotopoulos noted that Greece is North Macedonia’s partner and ally in the defense sector and would continue to support the country in its EU accession efforts. Interlocutors also discussed North Macedonia’s contribution in the KFOR Mission and the possibility of taking part in the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps – Greece and the EU Balkan Battlegroup HELBROC. Bilateral defense cooperation also includes parachute training of North Macedonia’s special forces in Greece, reads the press release.