Today at the ARM General Staff with high military honours the chairman of the European Union Military Committee, General Patrick de Rousiers was welcomed by his host the Chief of the General Staff of the ARM, Lieutenant General Goranco Koteski.
General Rousiers in a press statement highlighted the active participation and contribution of the Republic of Macedonia and the Macedonian Army in the European Security and Defence Policy, which clearly demonstrated its commitment of the path to the EU. He particularly emphasized the participation of the ARM members in the EU mission “ALTHEA” in Bosnia and Herzegovina, indicating the ARM declared units’ contribution by participating within the EU Battle Groups from 2012 and 2014. The Chairman of EUMC emphasized the development of partnership relations with the EU in the field of defence, as fitting contribution to the EU’s efforts to build regional stability, for which he expressed gratitude.
General Koteski highlighted the specific contribution of the ARM in the EU mission, and its active participation in EU battle groups. He added that at today’s meeting he asked General Rusier to consider participation of armies from non-EU countries in the work of the EUMC, as well as participation of professional personnel of the ARM in the EU forces ‘exercises in the area of crisis management. At the meeting, the Chief of the ARM requested inclusion of ARM members in the education and training process at the EUMC institutions, while pointing out the ARM further participation in the EU mission and battle groups, as an expression of commitment of the Republic of Macedonia to active membership in the EU and its efforts to contribute to peace and security in Europe.
In addition to promoting further cooperation with the EU, at the meeting with the EU delegation the transformation of the ARM and its participation in missions led by NATO and the EU was discussed. General Rousiers during his stay in the MoD and the ARM GS met with the Minister of Defence Zoran Jolevski.
Tomorrow, the chairman of the EUMC is scheduled to meet with the President of the Republic of Macedonia George Ivanov and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Poposki.
