Regarding the publication of articles and texts in the electronic and printed media in the Republic of Macedonia that are related to the requests of the professional soldiers of the ARM for resolving their status in the Army, the GS of the ARM informs the public that it fully adheres to the legal provisions which regulate their righ6ts and obligations of the professional soldiers. Since the beginning of the professionalization of the ARM, the status of the professional soldiers is defined in the Law for Service in the ARM, as well as with other legislation where their rights and obligations are regulated, which means consequential adherence and realization of the provisions from the signed working contracts after their employment.

On all meetings and talks that were run in relation to the resolving of the status of the professional soldiers, the GS of the ARM participated with their own representatives, and regarding the flow of talks and the proposed solutions, we informed the whole composition of the Army timely and regularly. With no intention to comment the published content in the media in relation to the status of the professional soldiers, we would like to indicate the fact that in some of them we recognize an attempt to abuse the protest of the professional soldiers in political goals. Such intentions would mean importing politics in the Army, which is of any condemnation, regardless from who and in what form they are expressed. In the previous years the ARM has gained a very good reputation in Macedonian society, thanks to the devotion of its members towards carrying out the obligations and tasks. But, the high rating and results by the ARM on domestic and foreign ground would be almost impossible without the unity which is present in its ranks, regardless of the rank, duty and nationality. We honestly respect the concern for the professional soldiers and their requests, but we are indicating that the attempt for giving a political dimension to the protest of the professional soldiers can very negatively affect exactly on the unity of ARM members.

The resolving of all status issues of ARM members, where professional soldiers belong, we believe should be carried out in the framework of the institutions in the country, because for us it is unacceptable for the professional soldiers to express their requests on the street. The GS of the ARM will just like thus far respect the provisions from the Law for Service in the ARM, but will also request the consequent employment of all rules a