Today, the 26th of January, the Chief of General Staff of ARM, Lieutenant General Metodija Velichovski gave a briefing to the President of the Republic of Macedonia and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, PhD Gjorgje Ivanov about the combat readiness of the ARM in 2015. The Minister of Defense Zoran Jolevski, Deputy Minister of Defense, Iljmi Selami, Deputy Chief of Committee of Defense and Security at the Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia, Sasho Akjimoski, representatives of the Department of Cabinet of the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Chiefs at the MoD and GS of ARM also attended the briefing.
The Chief of GS of ARM, Lieutenant General Metodija Velichkovski briefed the President Gjorgje Ivanov about the accomplished plans and assignments in 2015 in accordance with ARM functional areas. At the briefing General Velichkovski informed about the following activities: ARM units supporting the Ministry of Interior in dealing with the migrants crisis, army support in dealing with the aftermaths of natural disasters, successful participation in international missions abroad, and regular training and exercises of ARM units.
At the end of the briefing it was stressed that although ARM units faced difficult challenges last year, all plans, missions and assignments were accomplished by selfless determination and dedication of the military personnel.
President Ivanov expressed his gratitude to all ARM personnel for their selfless commitment while doing their job by accomplishing their missions and assignments and highlighted the fact that ARM has the largest support in the society. President Ivanov acknowledged ARM contribution in dealing with the migrant crisis and said that it is necessary to make a new defense strategy which would be foundation for the new Defense Plan in order to combat current defense threats successfully.
The Minister of Defense, Zoran Jolevski stated that in 2016 the priority will be improving the living and working conditions of ARM personnel, modernization and equipping of ARM in order to give maximum support in increasing the combat readiness when they are doing their job.
Prior the briefing there was a presentation of publications which were prepared at the Training Command and Doctrine and which will be the basis for essential groundwork of education of the personnel in the area of defense and security including cadets at the Military Academy as well as other universities in the country.
