Bulgarian, Macedonian Defence Ministers Sign 2 Protocols on Defence Cooperation

Two protocols for cooperation in the field of defence policy were signed by the Ministers of Defence of Bulgaria and Macedonia on 2^nd of November.

One of them provides for joint training of pilots from the two countries' military air forces, and the other is to provide laboratories for research in fuel, lubricants and special liquids for military purposes.

Bulgaria’s Defence Minister Krassimir Karakachanov stressed that Macedonia was the most prepared country in the region for NATO and European Union membership and recalled that a priority to the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU is the European integration of the Western Balkans.

"Bulgaria supports Macedonia's bid to join NATO and the EU," Karakachanov commented at a news conference.

Macedonian Defence Minister Radmila Shekerinska thanked for Bulgaria's support to Skopje. She said that the two talked about some very specific areas of defence cooperation including training in the area of military medicine, special forces, as well as exchange of experience in the field of defence reforms and Euro-Atlantic integration processes.