CELEBRATION OF THE 10th ANNIVERSARY
The ten-year jubilee of the Army of Republic of Macedonia was celebrated all over the country. The main celebration happened at the Ilinden Barracks.
The President of the state and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Republic of Macedonia delivered a welcome speech, in which he gave his recognition to the members of the Army who fought uncompromisingly against terrorism.
Macedonia necessitates modern, mobile, well trained, and contemporarily equipped army. Such Army is needful to the collective security systems, the entire international community and the anti-terrorist coalition.
Ten years ago, with great enthusiasm and love towards its belonging and origin, the Macedonian Army was formed and became independent. Since we are not a tree without its roots, August 18, the day of the formation of the first larger unit in the War of National Liberation, the “Mirce Acev’ Battalion, was proclaimed the Day of the Army. We have started modestly, almost without any equipment, but with well-trained senior officers and conscript-soldiers who were coming in great numbers in our barracks. Today, ten years afterwards, the Army of Republic of Macedonia is an army for respect. ARM has grown into a small, but yet modern, professional army with well trained senior officers and soldiers, equipped by the NATO standards. With its quality, organization, training capabilities and equipping, ARM is in fact with one leg already in NATO.
The pride, the feeling of growth and the development into a small, mobile and professional army could be seen on the faces of the defenders of the independence and the territorial integrity, the ones who stood by defending the motherland, at the ceremony of the Day of the ten-year jubilee of the Army of Republic of Macedonia all over the country. The main ceremony happened at the Ilinden Barracks, but also there were ceremonies in the Barracks in Bitola, Tetovo, Stip...
At the ceremony in the Ilinden Barracks in Skopje, the President of Republic of Macedonia and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Boris Trajkovski, the Minister of Defence, Vlado Popovski, the Chief of the General Staff of the ARM, LT General Metodi Stamboliski, the former and the very first President of Republic of Macedonia, Kiro Gligorov, number of citizens, former defence ministers, chiefs of general staff, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps and international missions in Macedonia, were present.
After the briefing of the Commander of the ceremony, Brigadier General Dragan Andrevski, a due respect with a minute of silence was paid to the fallen members of the Macedonian security forces in the defence of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Macedonia.
Addressing before the aligned senior officers and soldiers, and the guests present at the ceremony, the President and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Republic of Macedonia, Boris Trajkovski stressed that during the military operations in 2001, the Army of Republic of Macedonia had losses that we must not, and we will not forget. “It is our duty to build up and strengthen up the Army of Republic of Macedonia, which is an obligation for their sacrifice as well,” pointed Trajkovski.
“The ARM as an army of all the citizens must be persistent in its firm determination to contribute permanently in the returning of the peace and trust among the citizens,” said Trajkovski, adding that “finally the global threat from the terrorism has shown that the countries, regardless of their power, cannot fight the terrorism independently.”
“Macedonia needs a modern, mobile, well trained and contemporarily equipped army. Such Army is needful to the collective security systems, the entire international community and the anti-terrorist coalition,” assessed the Chief of the State, adding that its main task is the defence of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.
“It is within the framework in which we should reconsider all the activities of this institution. We should say it loudly and clearly that it should be organised and prepared to answer to its function,” stated Trajkovski.
“In order to face its challenges, ARM must be fully prepared, which means sufficient financial resources and expert knowledge.” The question of knowledge and its usage of the level of readiness is of great importance, emphasized Trajkovski, because the Army of Republic of Macedonia would be a better protector of the peace and security it we use this knowledge in the forming of its human and material potential”. According to Trajkovski, we need educated military personnel who would prepare in-time assessments for the new challenges, and who would have the most optimal answers to them.
The Chief of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, asked about the adherence of Republic of Macedonia in NATO, expressed his strong belief that Prague Summit in November this year would be a moment of great importance for the security, prosperity and the future of Macedonia, whereas the Army, with its uncompromising continuation of the commenced reforms would only help the politics in defending of the arguments that our place is not out of the Euro Atlantic family, but in it. “Only such approach would enable the realization of the basic priorities in the transformation and modernization of the Army, as well as its enabling of taking part in the peace operations in the crisis areas in the framework of the multinational peace forces”.
After the President’s speech, there was a parade of the military echelons of the garrisons in the country, among which were the echelons of the special forces “Wolves”, “Scorpios” and “Leopards,” as well as the echelons from the Land Forces of Republic of Macedonia, the echelons from the Air Forces and Antiaircraft Defence of the ARM from the Veles and Bitola Training Centers and from the Military Academy cadets.
The guest present at the ceremony observed with great attention the exhibited modern weaponry of the Macedonian Army. On the occasion of the ten-year jubilee, acts, statements and lauds for the members of the Ministry of Defence and ARM were read. Among the ARM equipment we single out the modern infantry equipment from the Land Forces Command, T-72 and T-55 tanks, BTR M-80 combat carrier, 155 and 122 mm howitzers. then the “BM-21”, SA-13, and SA-16 systems, vehicles for transporting people, the workshop, the kitchen and car trailer, and the sanitary vehicle.
This newest equipment of the ARM, operated by the well-trained and professional soldiers, speaks best for the growth of the Macedonian Army, for its way towards the zenith, i.e. NATO and collective defence systems. The devoted and brave defenders of our territorial integrity, keepers of our peace, have been and still remain first protectors of the independence of our country.
| CEREMONIES IN BITOLA, TETOVO, STIP... On the occasion of the Day of the Army of Republic of Macedonia and the celebration of the ten-year jubilee, a ceremony was held in the "Kuzman Josifovski – Pitu" Barracks in Tetovo.
On that occasion, and in the presence of the members of the municipal fighters’ organization, the Macedonian police and the municipal communities, there was a solemn aligning of the unit. At the ceremony, the Brigadier General Josif Bogoevski talked about the role and the meaning of the Day of the Army, as well as about its 10th anniversary. Number of rewards and recognitions for special merits and contribution in realization of the tasks of the ARM were given, and there were commissioning in higher ranks, as well as.
The Day of the Army of Republic of Macedonia was celebrated at the "Jane Sandanski" Barracks in Stip as well, were the Brigadier General Miroslav Stojanovski delivered a speech. He pointed out that August 18, is one of the greatest days in Republic of Macedonia’s history because on that day, exactly 59 years ago, the first military formation was formed on the Slavej mountain. "After the independence of Republic of Macedonia, this day is celebrated as the Day of the ARM which marks the 10 years of its development, independence and following of all modern flows in the field of defence," said Stojanovski.
In the honour of the Day of the Army, in the Alley of the National Heros, the members of the Army, local self-government and the Association of the Fighters from the War for National Liberation from Stip put flowers on the tombstone of the first Macedonian General and Commander of the armed unit of Macedonia during the World War II, Mihailo Apostolski. Also flowers were put on the monument of the fallen members of the ARM during the last year’s conflict.
On the occasion of the Day of the Army of Republic of Macedonia August 18, in the "Stefan Naumov – Stiv" Barracks in Bitola a memorial for the fallen defenders of the ARM in the last years conflicts with the Albanian terrorists was exposed. Also, flowers were placed on the memorial bust of the hero Stiv Naumov, positioned in the barracks area, and the Commander, colonel Toso Ampevski in the Bitola’s Army House delivered a speech in front of the personnel and the other guests present at the ceremony organized by the corps. As it was mentioned on this opportunity, the bravery and sacrifice of the defenders would remain a firm pointer of how the independent and sovereign Macedonia should be defended. |
| DEFENDING THE COUNTRY’S INDEPENDANCE "In 1992, the Defence Law was passed, on April 15, the ARM was formed, and on the "Ramna Niva" has started the securing of the border of Republic of Macedonia. ARM is one of the main carriers of the function of preserving of the independence and the territorial integrity of the country”, said the Minister of Defence Vlado Popovski on the occasion of the ten-year jubilee of developing, and Day of the Army of Republic of Macedonia, August 18. Speaking about the beginnings of the formation of the Army, the Minister Popovski pointed out that we have started with ten thousand automatic rifles, few thousands of M-48 rifles, small weaponry from short and medium range, as well as with large number of professional staff.
"During these ten years, we could mark a continuous process of reform, equipping and training of the ARM with the aim of defending the country effectively."
"Last year, during the military crisis, ARM defended the independence of the country and has intensified its tempo of creation of its organization according to the NATO standards," said Popovski, adding that we are making a maximal efforts to reach entirely the standards of the Alliance for membership. | TRUE HEROISM In the congratulation note send by the President of the Government of Republic of Macedonia, Ljubco Georgievski on the occasion of the Day of the Army of Republic of Macedonia stands that "this year’s celebration of August 18, the Day of the Army of Republic of Macedonia, has special importance because it signifies 10 passed years from the forming of our Army."
" Ten years is not such a long period of time to achieve great results in the defence system, but in regard to what our Army has achieved, we can be proud of your great successes. During these ten years, and especially during the last two, the security forces of Republic of Macedonia have demonstrated a genuine courage in defending of the independence and the territorial integrity of the country by preserving the internal peace and stability."
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