The ARM delegation led by the Chief of General Staff of ARM, Lieutenant General Metodija Velichkovski visited the Heritage Foundation yesterday as part of his working visit to the United States of America.
The delegation accompanied by the US Defence Attaché to the Republic of Macedonia, Colonel Timothy Buchen had a meeting with Luke Coffey, the director of the Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign and National Security Policy.
At the meeting, General Velichkovski talked about the current security challenges in the region, including the experience of the ARM in the NATO-led international military operations.
Director Coffey, who is a well-known supporter of the integration of the Republic of Macedonia in the Euro-Atlantic structures, pointed out that Macedonia should take advantage of this positive state of events for sooner integration into NATO and that it has the unconditional support of the foundation. Taking into account the influence that the Heritage Foundation had on the important decisions in the politics of the USA, this opinion is of great importance at this moment.
Afterwards, at the Macedonian Embassy in the USA, the United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) organization honored the Chief of General Staff of ARM, Lieutenant General Metodija Velichkovski with the “UMD Public Service Award” and Major General Steven Cray of the Vermont National Guard with the “UMD Macedonia Friendship Award”.
In his speech, General Cray again pointed out the importance of the programme for partnership and cooperation between the USA and the Republic of Macedonia emphasizing that the cooperation will continue to grow and that it will be the main pillar of common partnership as well as of future success.
