The Delegation of the Armed Forces (AF) of Romania, led by the Chief of GS of AF, Lieutenant-general Daniel Petresky, stayed in the General Staff of the Army and Ministry of Defense today, in the frameworks of the official one-day visit of the Republic of North Macedonia.
After the welcome ceremony of high military honors, in accordance with Covid-19 protocols, general Petresky was first accepted by his host, the Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant-general Vasko Gjurchinovski, and later conducted a meeting with the minister of defense Radmila Shekerinska.
During the meeting there was a discussion with general Gjurchinovski about bilateral cooperation so far between the two allied NATO armies and possibilities of its further promotion, especially in areas of mutual interest in the domain of training, drills and military education.
During the meeting with the minister Shekerinska on which the ambassador H.E. Adela Monika Eksinte was also present, the minister expressed her support for the participation of the Army of North Macedonia in the Multinational Corpus Command – southeast, seated in Romania. This visit that the Chief of General Staff Petresky paid during a pandemic shows the strong unity of the allies and is a great incentive to expand the cooperation – said the minister.
During the official meeting, the Delegation of AF of Romania got familiar with the process of transformation and modernization of the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia and the contribution so far and participation of members of the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia in international drills and missions led by NATO.
Simultaneously it is about the capacities of “Krivolak” army barrack square, where the upcoming drill “Decisive Strike 21” is going to take place, as a part of the big NATO drill “Defender Europe 21” whose activities are performed in 16 countries in Europe, including Romania.
During the visit, the CGS of AF of Romania met the president of the Republic of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski, and is yet to meet a part of Army units stationed in the “Ilinden” barracks, where he will attend a demonstrative drill performed by the Battalion of Special Forces, and will also visit the Pilots Training Centre where the capacities and possibilities of this contemporary aviation training center would be presented to him.
The so far cooperation of the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia with AF of Romania, which started in year 1998, keeps developing through expert meetings, mutual participation in drill activities and training, cooperation in military education and participation in regional initiatives and forums.
The Republic of North Macedonia and Romania are members of the Initiative for cooperation of Defense ministers of countries in Southeast Europe – SEDM, the Forum – “Conference of Chiefs of GS of Balkan countries for military cooperation” – B9 and the center of security cooperation “RACVIAC”.
