The Chief of the General Staff (CGS) of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM), Lieutenant General Metodija Velichkovski, is leading the ARM delegation to an official working visit of the General Staff and the Ministry of Defence of Bulgaria.
After the formal reception ceremony, General Velichkovski had a meeting with his host, the CGS of the Bulgarian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Andrej Bocev, followed by a meeting between the ARM delegation, accompanied by Macedonian Ambassador to Bulgaria Marjan Gjorchev, and representatives of the Bulgarian General Staff.
At the meeting between the chiefs of GSs, mutual military cooperation was discussed. First of all, strengthening the existing cooperation in the area of military education, educating the military-medical personnel, cooperation in military training of the Special Forces, cooperation in military Air Force and Anti-Air Defence, usage of the military maintenance, repair and overhaul centres of Republic of Bulgaria and possible cooperation in the area of acquisition. Thereby General Velichkovski presented the capacities and possibilities for joint training at the army training camp “Krivolak”.
Generals Velichkovski and Bocev expressed their beliefs that mutual cooperation in the area of defence and good relations in the region are of great importance for the collective stability and security which are to strengthen further more after concluding the NATO accession process of all member states of the Adriatic Charter.
These objectives were restated during the meeting of the ARM delegation with Deputy Minister of Defence Anatolij Velichkov, where support and readiness for enhancing the NATO integration process of the Republic of Macedonia were expressed.
In the course of the day, the ARM delegation is to visit the Military Academy “G.S. Rakovski” where, besides meeting the head of the Academy, Major General Grudi Angelov, possibilities for further education of ARM members at this academy are to be explored.
Tomorrow, the delegation is to visit the military simulation centre “Charalica”.
Earlier partnership between the ARM and the Bulgarian Armed Forces is seen through the education of Macedonian officers at the military academies, participation in different courses and trainings, as well as cooperation between the units of the Military Police and the Special Forces.
