Bonn/Berlin, 4 to 9 June 2012

Three representatives of the Directorate for Security of Classified Information visited the National Security Authority of the Federal Republic of Germany in the period from 4 to 9 June 2012. The study visit was supported by the TAIEX instrument of the European Commission. The aim of the study visit was to obtain knowledge of the work of the German institutions which have competencies in the protection and handling of classified information, with particular emphasis on the information security. For that reason working visits were accomplished to the federal institution for security of information BSI and the Ministry of Economy and Technology in Bonn, and to the National Security Authority of the Federal Republic of Germany in Berlin.

This study visit is of great importance for the Republic of Macedonia because new experience and practices were obtained related to the protection and handling of classified information. These experiences and the established contacts with the German representatives will contribute to enhancing the bilateral cooperation and to the practical implementation of the signed Memorandum of Agreement on technical and information cooperation and of the bilateral agreement on mutual protection of classified information to be signed soon between the Republic of Macedonia and the Federal Republic of Germany.

June 2012

Representatives of the Directorate for Security of Classified Information take active part in the training activities organized in the field of the EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). As a result, two representatives of the Directorate will participate in the training organized by the Ministry of Defence on 12-13 June 2012 in Skopje with the support of the TAIEX instrument of the European Commission, and one representative will take part in the training to be held in the period from 18 to 22 June 2012 in Brussels, organized within the CSDP training program for St5abilization and Association Process (SAP) countries 2012.

June 2012

Three representatives of the Directorate for Security of Classified Information will visit the National Security Authority of the Federal Republic of Germany in the period from 4 to 8 June 2012. The study visit will be supported by the TAIEX instrument of the European Commission. The aim of the study visit is to obtain knowledge and exchange experiences related to the functioning of the National Communication Security Authority (NCSA), the National Accreditation Authority (NAA) and the National Distribution Authority (NDA), as well as to exchange experiences related to the information security of classified information.

Skopje, 16-19 May 2012

In the period from 16 to 19 May 2012 a delegation of the National Security Authority of the Italian Republic visited the Republic of Macedonia. The purpose of the visit was the second phase of the bilateral negotiations for harmonizing the text of the agreement on exchange and mutual protection of classified information between the governments of the both countries.

Skopje, 7-10 May 2012

Within the visit of the NATO MAP Team to the Republic of Macedonia from 7 to 10 May 2012, the NATO Office of Security representative conducted an inspection to the Directorate for Security of Classified Information and the registries for classified information located at the ministries and other state organs. The results of the inspection determine the development and the level of protection of NATO classified information in the Republic of Macedonia since the last inspection and they will enter the final NATO report on the accomplishment of the Membership Action Plan of the Republic of Macedonia to NATO. The NOS inspector initially assessed the situation as positive and provided the Directorate with some additional documents related to the information security of classified information.

Маy 2012

Within the Second Conference of the South East European National Security Authorities (SEENSA), held on 7-9 May 2012 in the Republic of Slovenia, the delegation of the Directorate for Security of Classified Information of the Republic of Macedonia had a bilateral meeting with the Director of the National Security Authority of the Kingdom of Spain. The meeting was used to discuss the launched initiative for entering into an agreement at government level and it was agreed the bilateral negotiations for harmonizing the text of the agreement on exchange and mutual protection of classified information to start in the beginning of October 2012.

Brdo, Mаy 2012

At the margins of the South East European National Security Authorities (SEENSA), held on 7-9 May 2012 in the Republic of Slovenia, the delegation of the Directorate for Security of Classified Information of the Republic of Macedonia had a bilateral meeting with the Government Office for the Protection of Classified Information of the Republic of Slovenia. The purpose of the meeting was to activate a higher level of cooperation between the two national security authorities through a mutual project for establishing an electronic connection. The initial effects of the initiated project are expected in September 2012.

Brdo, May 2012

Within the Second Conference of the South East European National Security Authorities (SEENSA), held on 7-9 May 2012 in the Republic of Slovenia, the delegation of the Directorate for Security of Classified Information of the Republic of Macedonia had a number of bilateral meetings and exchanged experiences related to the handling and protection of classified information. Furthermore, initiatives were launched for more intensive cooperation with the national security authorities of the Kingdom Great Britain, the Republic of Moldova and Romania. More concrete related activities will follow in the forthcoming period.

Concerning the needs of the Directorate for Security of Classified Information related to training and other aspects of the work with classified information, during the bilateral meetings support and concrete assistance in the field of training was offered by the national security authorities of the Republic of Bulgaria and Hungary through application of the EU instruments TAIEX and Twinning projects, through IPA funds and etc.

Brdo, 7 -9 May 2012

The Second Conference of the South East European National Security Authorities (SEENSA) took place on 7-9 May 2012 in Brdo, Republic of Slovenia. The conference was attended by the heads and representatives of the National Security Authorities of the Republic of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Bulgaria, Republic of Croatia, Kosovo, Republic of Macedonia, Republic of Moldova, Republic of Montenegro, Romania, Republic of Slovenia and Republic of Serbia. The conference was also attended by Mr. Hido Biščevič, the RCC Secretary General, Mr. David Galloway, Deputy Director-General of the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union and Mr. Stephen Smith, the Director of the NATO Office of Security.

As the meeting coincided with the tenth anniversary of the Slovenian NSA, upon the host’s invitation, seven NSAs from the EU member states participated: Czech Republic, Republic of Estonia, Kingdom of Great Britain, Hungary, Kingdom of Luxemburg, Republic of Poland and Kingdom of Spain.
The SEENSA forum has a great importance for the regional cooperation in the South Eastern Europe since through this forum Europe offers wide opportunities for promoting the mutual cooperation and understanding among the national security authorities.

Skopje, April 23, 2012

On April 23, 2012 at the Directorate for Security of Classified Information a meeting was held with the President of the National Security Authority of Hungary, Mr. Mihály Zala who visited the Republic of Macedonia within the framework of the high delegation of the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice of Hungary, led by the State Secretary Dr. Marcell Biró.
The meeting at the Directorate was used for exchange of the experiences from the mutual cooperation related to the activities organized through the European Commission TAIEX instrument, during which the Hungarian delegation initiated and supported the participation in twinning and TAIEX activities upon the Directorate’s choice. Furthermore, the two parties at the meeting reconfirmed the interest and their readiness to soon initiate bilateral negotiations for entering into an agreement between the governments of the two countries on exchange and mutual protection of classified information.