From today, a high military delegation of the National Guard (NG) of the federal state of Vermont, led by the commander of the Vermont National Guard, Major General Steven Cray, whose host is the ARM Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Metodija Velichkovski, is on a three-day official visit to the ARM.
During his visit to the General Staff and the Ministry of Defence, General Cray met with the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Macedonia, Zoran Jolevski. They both emphasized the cooperation between the Vermont National Guard and the Macedonian Army as a result of the excellent defense cooperation between Macedonia and the United States. In addition, it was established that this cooperation should continue to evolve continuously. Minister Jolevski stated that starting from this year, the Military Academy in the third and fourth year will begin to be taught in English. This way will allow students from other countries to study right here and noted that he would like members of the Vermont National Guard to come and learn a few semesters.
General Cray supported the idea and added that this will be a significant benefit to both institutions.
Speaking to the media, General Velichkovski pointed out that this year marks twenty years of the partnership between the ARM and the Vermont National Guard and said that we could be proud of the many results of the joint training, and various forms of cooperation, which was crowned with the joint participation in the Phoenix troops within the ISAF mission in Afghanistan in 2010. Expressing his gratitude for the support by the Vermont National Guard, the ARM Chief of General Staff emphasized that at the meeting deepening of the cooperation with the Vermont NG was discussed, which cooperation the GS Chief assessed as fruitful and productive. In addition he stated that the cooperation will be rounded off with the upcoming visit of the US, together with the Defence Minister Zoran Jolevski.
General Cray General expressed his gratitude for the hospitality and emphasized that the ARM and the Vermont National Guard in the future will continue to work side by side on different levels, calling to mind the joint deployment of forces, the development of officers and NCOs, working on tasks as preparation for execution of operations such as preparation for handling disasters, stressing that the cooperation between the two armies advances each year. The commander of the Vermont National Guard highlighted that the lasting partnership between the Vermont National Guard and the ARM is founded on a pillar of friendship and cooperation which results in the successful execution of exercises and operations, particularly pointing out the mutual professional relationships and personal friendships in Macedonia.
