Portoroz, 4 April 2023 (MIA) — Effective cooperation is irreplaceable in strengthening regional security, according to Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski and his Slovenian counterpart Bostjan Poklukar who met Tuesday on the sidelines of a two-day meeting of the Brdo Process interior ministers in Slovenia.

According to an official press release, Minister Spasovski thanked Minister Poklukar on the warm welcome and expressed his enthusiasm that they would be working together again.

"The region continues to face many security challenges, including illegal drug trade, terrorism and radical extremism, financial crime and all types of organized crime," Spasovski said at the meeting, highlighting the need of cooperation both at the bilateral and at the regional level.

Spasovski also told Poklukar that the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) was formally starting its operations in North Macedonia on April 19, 2023, after intense preparations between Frontex representatives and the Ministry of the Interior.

The two interior ministers expressed their gratitude to the regional border police, as well, including Slovenian police officers, who had achieved excellent results together in dealing with illegal migration and migrant smuggling at the southern border of North Macedonia.

At the meeting, Minister Spasovski invited his counterpart to the 50th Interpol European Regional Conference, which will be held in Ohrid on May 8 to 10, and thanked the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Slovenia on its support during North Macedonia's European integration process. 

Slovenia's Interior Minister accepted the invitation, confirming that every subsequent meeting sends a strong message of security to the public, the MoI press release says. mr/