Deputy Chairman of the NATO Military Committee attends the 12th conference of the Chiefs of Defence of the Balkan countries

Since its creation in 2007, the Balkan CHODs Conference has been an important military regional forum where the promotion of cooperation, stability, and confidence amongst the Balkan countries has been paramount. Through practical and visible results, it has confirmed the commitment of all members to provide timely and the most efficient response to diverse security challenges and threats in the region.

This year’s conference, hosted by General Ljubiša Diković, Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, focused on "Security and Defence in Cyberspace - risks and opportunities for a successful regional cooperation", amongst other topics. Participants included the Chiefs of General Staffs/Chiefs of Defence of the Republic of Albania, the Republic of Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Hellenic Republic, the Republic of Macedonia, Romania, the Republic of Serbia, the Republic of Turkey and Montenegro, the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Slovenia as well as the Chairman of the ED Military Committee, and the Commander of Allied Joint Force Command Naples.

During the course of the two day conference, Lt Gen Shepro highlighted the strategic importance of the Balkans and stressed that “NATO would maintain its presence, focus and engagement in the Western Balkans because stability and security in this region benefits the stability and security in Europe”. He added that “NATO sees the region’s future in Euro-Atlantic cooperation and is determined to continue to help the countries of the region to implement reforms. This will benefit their citizens, their countries and the entire Euro-Atlantic family”.

The Deputy Chairman also commended the organizers for choosing Cyber as the central theme for the Conference, “this proves once more that cyber is a transregional interest and an essential domain for our security. Cyber defence is part of NATO’s core task of collective defence. We consider it an operational domain, in which NATO must be prepared to defend itself as effectively as we do in the air, on land or at sea”.

Concluding the visit, Lt Gen Shepro emphasised the benefits and need for continued military cooperation between Allied and Partner countries. “Partners are part of many of NATO’s core activities, from shaping policy to building defence capacity, developing interoperability and managing crises. Dialogue and cooperation with partners can make a concrete contribution to enhance international security, to defend the values on which the Alliance is based, to NATO’s operations, and to prepare interested nations for membership. NATO’s programmes also help partner nations to develop their own defence and security institutions and forces”, concluded Lt Gen Shepro.