Celebration of 10th Anniversary
The ten year anniversary of the ARM was celebrated with suitable ceremonies across the country. The main celebration was held in the “Ilinden” barracks.
The President and Supreme Commander of the armed forces of ARM, Boris Trajkovski greeted and paid tribute to the ARM members for their uncompromised fighting against terrorism. Macedonia needs a modern, mobile, well trained and equipped modern army. That army is needed for the collective security systems, the entire international community and the international anti-terrorist coalition. With great enthusiasm, love for the one’s own country and the ancient, ten years ago the Macedonian defense became independent and formed the Army of Republic of Macedonia. Since we are not a tree without roots, August 18 was declared the day of ARM, the day when the first bigger unit in National Liberation War, the battalion “Mirce Acev” was formed. It all began modestly, almost without equipment, but with well-trained officers and soldiers recruits who filled the Macedonian barracks. Today, ten years later, the Army of the Republic is an army worth respect. ARM has grown into a small but modern, professional army, with well-trained officers and soldiers and equipped by NATO standards. With its quality, organization, with the training and equipment, ARM is actually with one foot already in NATO. That pride, that feeling of growing and growing up into a small, mobile, a real professional army, with the defenders of the independence and territorial integrity, which were the first that stood at the defense line of the motherland, dominated on the distinguished celebration of the Day and the tenth anniversary of the Army the Republic of Macedonia all over the country. The main ceremony was held in the barracks “Ilinden”, and it was also similar in the barracks in Bitola, Tetovo, Stip …
The military ceremony at the barracks “Ilinden” in Skopje was attended by the President of the Republic and Supreme Commander in of the Armed Forces, Boris Trajkovksi, Defence Minister Vlado Popovski, Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Metodi Stamobliski, the former and first president of the Republic of Macedonia Kiro Gligorov, many citizens, previous defense ministers and chiefs of staff, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps and international missions of Macedonia.
After the report of the commander of the ceremony, Brigadier General Dragan Andreski, the fallen soldiers of the Second World War and the killed members of the Macedonian security forces in defense of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Macedonia, was paid tribute with a minute of silence.
Addressing the lineup of officers and soldiers and before the attendants of the ceremony, the president and supreme commander of the armed forces of the Republic of Macedonia, Boris Trajkovski said that in the military operations in 2001, the Macedonian Army had losses that and we must not and will not ever forget. “Our duty is to improve and even more strengthen the Army of Republic of Macedonia, which is also a debt to their sacrifice,” Trajkovski said.
“The army, as an army of all citizens must continue to exist in its permanent commitment to continuously contribute to restoring the peace and trust among the citizens,” Trajkovski said adding that “finally, the global threat of terrorism has shown that countries, regardless of their power, cannot independently fight against it.”
“Macedonia needs a modern, mobile, well trained and equipped modern army. That army is needed for the collective security systems, the entire international community and the international anti-terrorist coalition”, said the head of state, adding that its main task is the defense of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state.
“It is the framework in which to consider all activities of the institution. We should say loud and clear that it should be organized and prepared to respond to its function,” Trajkovski said.
To face the challenges, ARM must be fully prepared, which includes sufficient funding and expertise. “The issue of knowledge and the use of the level of preparedness is extremely important, emphasized Trajkovski, because the Macedonian Army will be even better defender of peace and security, if better use of the knowledge is applied in shaping its human and material potential.” According to Trajkovski, military educational staff is required to prepare timely assessments of the new risks and to have the most optimal response to them.
The head of state and supreme commander of the armed forces, for the question of accession of the Republic of Macedonia in NATO, expressed confidence that the summit in Prague in November will be a moment of extraordinary importance for the security, prosperity and future of Macedonia, while the Army with the uncompromising continuation of the reforms will only help the policy in defense of the arguments that our place is in the Euro-Atlantic family, not outside of it.
“Only such an approach will enable the realization of the main priorities in the transformation and modernization of the army, as well as its preparation for participation in peacekeeping missions in the conflict areas within the multinational peacekeeping forces.”
After the speech of President Trajkovski, there was also a parade of the echelons of the garrisons in the country among which were the echelons of Special Forces “Wolves”, “Scorpions” and “Leopards”, echelons of the Land Forces of the Republic of Macedonia and echelons of members the Air Force and the Army air defense, from training centers in Veles and Bitola and the cadets of the Military Academy.
Participants on the celebration with great attention reviewed a part of the displayed modern weapons which Macedonian army has. On the occasion of the ten year anniversary, decrees, orders and praise for members of the Ministry of Defense and the Army were read. Among the other assets of the ARM, we single out the modern infantry assets of the command of Land Forces, the T-72 and T-55 tanks, the APC BTR M-80, the 155 mm and 122mm howitzers, the “GRAD”, arrow -10 and needle systems, motor vehicles with communicational devices, as well as motor vehicles for transportation of people, the workshop, the trailer kitchen and the ambulance.
This, the latest equipment of ARM, which is operated by well trained, above all, professional soldiers, the best describes the growth of the Macedonian army on its way to the top, i.e. NATO and collective defense systems. The true and brave defenders of our territorial integrity, the guardians of our peace, were and remain the first line of defense of the independence of our country.
- Ceremonies in Bitola, Tetovo, Stip …
On the occasion of the Day of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia and the celebration of the 10th anniversary, a ceremony was held in the barracks “Kuzman Josifovski – Pitu” in Tetovo.
On that occasion, in the presence of the representatives of the municipal combat organization, the Macedonian police and the community, there was a lineup of the unit. At the ceremony, Brigadier General Joseph Bogoevski spoke of the role and meaning of the Day of the Army, as well as its 10th anniversary. For distinguished commitment and contribution in achieving the tasks of the Army there were given acknowledgments and awards, and some were promoted to higher ranks.
Day of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia was celebrated also at the barracks “Jane Sandanski” in Stip , at which the unit commander in Stip , Brigadier General Miroslav Stojanovski gave a speech. He noted that August 18 is one of the greatest days in the history of the Macedonian people, because on this day, exactly 59 years ago, the first military formation was formed on mountain Slavej. “After the independence of the Republic of Macedonia, this day is celebrated as the Day of the ARM, which marks ten years of its independence, promotions and following all the modern trends in the field of defense,” Pavlov said.
In honor of the Day of the ARM, in the Alley of people’s heroes, members of the army, local government and the Association of veterans of People’s Liberation War in Shtip laid flowers at the monument of the first Macedonian general and commander of the armed units of Macedonia during the Second World War , Mihailo Apostoloski. Flowers were also laid on the monument of the fallen members of the ARM during the conflicts last year.
On the occasion of August 18 – the Day of the Army of Republic of Macedonia, in the barracks, “Stephen Naumov – Steve” in Bitola, a memorial for the fallen defenders of ARM in the last clashes with Albanian terrorists was revealed. Flowers were also placed on the memorial bust of the hero Steve Naumov, set in the barracks, and Lieutenant Commander Toso Ampevski in the Army Hall in Bitola spoke before the formal meeting staff and the other guests – participants at the ceremony organized by the corps. As pointed out on that occasion, “the courage and sacrifice of the defenders will remain a lasting roadmap for how one should defend independent and sovereign Macedonia”.
- Speech by Minister Popovski
On the line of defense of the independence of the country
“In 1992, the Law on Defense was passed, on April 15 ARM was formed, and on “Ramna niva” began guarding the border of the Republic of Macedonia. ARM is one of the pillars of the function of preserving the independence and territorial integrity of the state”, the Minister of Defense Vlado Popovski said, on the occasion of the ten-year anniversary of the development and the Day of the Army of Republic of Macedonia, 18 August.
Turning to the beginnings of the formation of the Army, Minister Popovski said it started with ten thousand rifles, few tens of thousands of M – 48 firearms, and smaller quantities of arms with short and medium range, as well as a number of professional staff.
“In these ten years, he said, we can observe a continuous process of reform, equipping and training the ARM in order to effectively defend the country.”
“Last year, during a military crisis ARM fought for the independence of the country and increased the pace of creating their own organization by NATO standards”, Popovski said adding that they make every effort to fully reach the standards for membership in the Alliance.
- Speech by Prime Minister Georgievski
True courage
“The celebration on August18, the day of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia, this year has special significance because 10 years have passed since the formation of our army,” said the note sent for the celebration of the Day of the Army by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia, Minister Georgievski.
“Ten years is a long time to achieve great results in the development of the defense system, but according to what our military has accomplished, we can be proud of your great success.
The past ten years, especially the last two, the security forces of the Republic of Macedonia showed real courage in defending the independence and territorial integrity of the country, in maintaining internal peace and stability.”