President Stevo Pendarovski met Friday with Bernard Emie, Director of the General Directorate for External Security (DGSE), at the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference (MSC), discussing Macedonia’s contribution to regional security as NATO member, and current security challenges in the broader area.

We discussed our contribution as a NATO member to regional stability and the current security challenges in the wider region, Pendarovski wrote on Facebook.

In addition to Emie, President Pendarovski also met with Jigsaw CEO Jared Cohen. The two interlocutors discussed the application of technological solutions in tackling global challenges, as well as the fact that digitalization is necessary for accelerated development and is a strategic priority for the next decade.

At the meeting with Thomas Gomar, Director of the French Institute for International Relations (IFRI), Pendarovski informed that he had the opportunity to get acquainted with the priorities of the current French EU Presidency, with emphasis on enlargement to the Western Balkans, as well as activities related to the Conference for the future of Europe – processes in which experts from the renowned think tank “Ifri – Institut français des relations internationales” participate.

I am pleased with the series of initiatives taken by France aimed at strengthening its engagement in the Western Balkans, including the announced EU-WB Summit in June this year, Pendarovski said.