The Armed Forces of the Republic of North Macedonia are hosting this year's 15th Conference of the Chiefs of Defense/General Staffs of the Balkan's countries on Military Cooperation (Balkan CHOD Forum), with the aim of improving the model of military cooperation in the Balkans, as well as possible models of responding to security challenges.

The conference, to be held from 16 to 17 June 2022 in Ohrid, is an extremely important initiative for strengthening multinational military cooperation in the region, which confirms the desire to strengthen regional cooperation between the armed forces, promote regional stability and security, as well as strengthen the already established and seeking new mechanisms for cooperation in the Balkan region.

At the beginning of the conference, the President of the Republic of North Macedonia, H.E. Stevo Pendarovski addressed the conference participants and guests, emphasizing the exceptional importance of good and successful military cooperation for all countries in the region, and wishing the participants success in their work.

"For years, the Balkan CHOD Forum conference has been an initiative that is of a great importance and contributes to the successful cooperation in the region, which ultimately results in a better security environment for all countries in the region. That is why this initiative is of a great importance for the Republic of North Macedonia as well, "said the Chief of the General Staff of the Army, Lieutenant General Vasko Gjurchinovski, who officially opened the conference.

As the participants of the conference emphasized, it is especially important that the tasks arising from each conference held at the level of the Chiefs of Staff of the Balkan countries, including those in Sarajevo, are aimed not only at strengthening existing coordination mechanisms, but also at finding ways to establish new mechanisms. would further improve cooperation. "It is important to ensure better mutual understanding in order to achieve the required level of interoperability and knowledge necessary for joint engagement, timely exchange of information and training capacities, as well as mutual assistance," it was emphasized on this occasion.

After the presentation of the conference participants, a joint statement was signed, through which the current cooperation was assessed as very successful and meaningful, and as it was said, the Forum will strive to further improve the cooperation in the coming period.

The members of the Balkan CHODs Forum are: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Türkiye.

In addition to the CHODs or CHODs representatives of member countries, CHOD of Croatia, and high-ranking representatives of the NATO, USAREUR-AF and EU.