In the presence of the highest state and military leadership, the central ceremony for the military holiday “August 18 – Day of the Army” was held at the “Jane Sandanski” barracks in Shtip. The ceremony included formations from all first-subordinate commands and units of the Army General Staff, formations composed of newly promoted officers and non-commissioned officers of the Army, as well as a display of Army weapons and equipment.
At the central ceremony speeches were delivered by: the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, the Minister of Defense, Vlado Misajlovski and the Chief of the Army General, Staff Major General Sashko Lafchiski.
In her address, President Siljanovska-Davkova stated: “For more than three decades, the Army has been writing its story as a true custos patriae, a guardian of the homeland.” She emphasized: “Our Army is a pillar of peace and stability, from its contribution in the UNIFIL peace mission to its engagement in the KFOR mission, where in November 2020 the Macedonian peacekeepers reached the highest level of NATO responsibility. Today, over 180 Army members under the Macedonian flag are engaged in peace support missions and operations.”
On this occasion, the President reflected on the challenges of today, stressing that we live in some of the most unstable, unpredictable, and insecure times, which highlights the importance of self-sustainability, strengthened deterrence capability, and adapting national crisis management capacities to those of NATO, in order to remain compatible with European security.
Minister Misajlovski expressed gratitude to all women and men in uniform, and all employees in the defense sector who contribute to the development of the Army, which he described as “organized, highly professional, and exceptionally respected.” He stated that the pillars on which the Macedonian Army and defense forces are built stand firmly.
“Macedonian defense invests in its development, is equipped and modernized, and very importantly – it is rejuvenated and replenished. This is a guarantee that our strength and ability to be the foundation of the country today will be a reality in the future as well,” concluded Misajlovski in front of the state-military leadership.
In his speech, the Chief of the General Staff of the Army stated: “The Army has always been one of the most important pillars of the state, it is a symbol of excellence and professionalism”, emphasizing the trust the Army enjoys among the citizens.
The General pointed out that in the past period the Army worked hard, and by clearly setting its priorities, it significantly improved combat functions and combat readiness. Regarding the Army’s future steps, he emphasized: “The upcoming period will be dedicated to the continuous increase of training, preparedness, and exercised capacity at all levels of command and control, implementing the lessons learned from modern battlefields.” At the end of his speech, General Lafchiski called for a joint effort to continue building the Army as a modern and reliable force, a force of peace, stability, and dignity.
As part of the ceremony, President Siljanovska-Davkova awarded the “Medal of Military Merit” to the Cadets and Officers Training Center. The medal was awarded for outstanding achievements in fulfilling the basic mission – organization, preparation and implementation of training with cadets and officer candidates in the Army, as well as for a special strategic and long-term contribution to the construction and strengthening of the defense capability of the Army through investing in the education and training of cadets and officer candidates, thus creating a generation of dedicated and professional military leaders.
The central ceremony was also attended by the Speaker of the Assembly, Afrim Gashi, the Prime Minister, Hristijan Mickoski, ministers in the Government, members of Parliament, guests from the military-diplomatic corps, former Ministers of Defense and Chiefs of the General Staff, generals in the Army, representatives of local governments, representatives of organizations with which the Army cooperates, friends and relatives of the newly commissioned second lieutenants and other guests.
