The Army have started conducting the assigned tasks after issuing of a decree by the President of the Republic of North Macedonia and the Supreme Commander of the Army, Stevo Pendarovski, for declaring a state of emergency throughout the whole country, in order to protect the citizens and manage issues caused by the outbreak of virus Covid-19,
Therefore, today at a press conference, the Chief of General Staff of the Army Lieutenant General Vasko Gjurchinovski, informed the public about the Army’s tasks, which they will conduct in close cooperation with other state organizations and institutions in these perilous times in our country caused by the outbreak of the epidemic.
General Gkurchinovski, on the behalf of all service personnel of the Army, congratulated the citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia on the full-member state of NATO accession, which was a strategic goal for many years. The Army service personnel are especially proud of that.
As far as the current situation is concerned including the assigned activities to the General Staff and its subordinate commands and units concerning the management of the epidemic outbreak of the virus Covid-19, the Chief of the General Staff of the Army said: “After the President and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces declared state of emergency in our country, the Army is conducting additional, significant tasks. We are conducting joint activities with the Ministry of Interior, moreover, from tomorrow onwards the Army are going to be part of the joint patrols in securing the state borders of our fatherland. The citizens will be able to see the presence of the Army in joint patrols with the police.”
General Gjurchinovski addressed the citizens and recommended to be patient, calm, courageous and brave in this exceptionally difficult time of our lives. In addition, he said that we should closely follow the instructions given by the relevant institutions of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia. He emphasized the need of employing solidarity and unity as it has never been required before so as to overcome the challenge with which the whole world is facing.
He also emphasized that the Army is engaged in activities to support the citizens as it is written in the decree of the Government and the Minister of Defense’s instructions.
At the end of his speech, he thanked the service personnel of the Army, health care workers, the Police and all other institutions who are involved in crisis management in order to prevent further spreading of the virus. He believes that there are institutions with sufficient capacity to deal with this crisis, as well as, that we, as citizens, have a historical and patriotic debt towards our ancestors to take any possible measures in order to prevent deterioration of the situation as it has been happening in other countries.
Upon reporter’s question about further inclusion of the Army in taking precautions, the General said that the Army will take part in joint patrols with the Police to secure important state compounds including entrance and exit control points of towns and cities, in accordance with the Government instructions, for which the Army is well trained and ready. Moreover, he said that all preventive measures which have to be taken by the Army service personnel are being planned and coordinated.
In the period ahead, what measures it will be taken and how the army will be involved will depend on the requirements stated by the Government and the Crisis Management Team in coordination with the relevant institutions.
The General Staff and its subordinate units established operations teams who manage units’ tasks and activities, coordinating with all relevant institutions, so that they can prepare short-term operations plans and orders.
Despite having additional assignments, the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia continues with previously assigned tasks to support the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Health in securing the virus affected area of Debar and Centar Zhupa. In addition, the Army also continues securing the southern and part of the northern state border in order to manage the migration crisis.
