Today, April 11th (Friday), as a part of the military exercise “Macedonian Flash-10”at the Army Training Area (ATA) “Krivolak” the programme for the Distinguished Visitors Day was realized. This occasion was attended by: the Minister of Defence, Talat Xhaferi, the Chief of the General Staff of the ARM, Lieutenant General Gorancho Koteski, the Deputy Minister of Defence, Emil Dimitirev , the Deputy Chief of the General Staff ,Lieutenant General Nasser Sejdini, the State Secretary at the MoD, Sasho Stefanoski, the Director of the General Staff, Major General Dimche Petrovski , the Commander of the Joint Operational Command (JOC) of the ARM, Major General Metodija Velichkovski, military attaches accredited in the Republic of Macedonia, representatives of the NATO Liaison Office, the local government of Shtip , Negotino and Kavadarci and other dignitaries.
In front of the guests, the members of the ARM who constitute the Medium Infantry Battalion Group (MIBG) and the Light Maneuver Hospital (LMH) demonstrated various combat actions and situations that were part of the contents for the assessment of these two declared units of the ARM. Superior training was demonstrated and the guests had an opportunity to learn about the Tactical Operational center of the MIBG, the equipment and the personnel of the LMH and the staff of the exercise.
Minister Xhaferi expressing satisfaction with what was shown on the Distinguished Visitors Day, said that the training of declared units, who once again demonstrated the ability to engage in operations led by NATO, gives us the opportunity in the next three years to be part of the pool of forces that are planned to be engaged in peacekeeping missions, which will enable enforcement of the constitutional functions of the ARM.
The Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Gorancho Koteski, stressed that the successful organization and execution of the exercise “Macedonian Flash-10 ” represents another major success and confirmation of meeting the NATO standards by the ARM . He pointed out that the NATO evaluation team’s initial assessment of the MIBG and LMH is positive. He also indicated the importance of the LMH certification which apart from the its use for the ARM needs could be used for purposes of other institutions and individuals in certain emergency occasions. General Koteski in front of the guests also emphasized the importance of the LMH, which enters the composition of Balkan medical forces, whose headquarters will be in the Republic of Macedonia.
The evaluation of the and MIBG and the LMH on “Macedonian Flash-10” was conducted by NATO assessment team consisting of 16 members from various NATO commands, most of whom are representatives of the armed forces of member states of NATO and PfP.
Tomorrow is the last day of the exercise, when it is originally scheduled the unofficial announcement of the evaluation of the conducted assessment to take place in accordance with OCC NATO (NATO Assessment – Level 2).
