Today, the chairman of NATO’s Military Committee (MC), General Knud Bartels, was welcomed with high military honors by his host, the Chief of the GS of the ARM, Lieutenant General Gorancho Koteski, at the General Staff (GS) of the ARM.
General Bartels, in his statement for the media, expressed his gratitude to the ARM members, pointing out the professionalism they show in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan, for which they are highly respected in the NATO Alliance. He also highlighted the contribution and cooperation of the ARM in the KFOR mission, he expressed his satisfaction from the readiness for further participation of the ARM in the “Resolute Support” mission, which is starting next year under NATO leadership as a training mission of the Afghan security forces. The chairman of NATO’s MC emphasized that the excellent cooperation between the ARM and NATO would continue and, besides taking part in missions and exercises, it would expand with new initiatives, for example, the initiative for building the defense and security installations.
General Koteski accentuated the participation of the ARM members in the NATO led missions, as well as the immense contribution of the ARM to the regional and world peace and stability, he also expressed his expectations for increased participation of the staff officers in the following period in the NATO commands and headquarters, who will take part in the decision making process within the Alliance. Underlying that when considering the readiness of the declared units and the application of the NATO Concept for Operational Capabilities, the ARM is a leader in the region, the Chief of the GS of the ARM pointed out that the support and cooperation with NATO continues, in support of the efforts for active membership of Republic of Macedonia in NATO.
At the meeting with the NATO delegation, besides talking about improving the further cooperation with NATO, the realization of the action plan for NATO membership, as well as the implementation of the partnership goals and the participation of the ARM in the NATO led missions were discussed.
General Bartels also met the Minister of Defense, Zoran Jolevski, and this afternoon he gave a lecture to the cadets at the Military Academy “Mihailo Apostolski” in Skopje.
Tomorrow, the chairmen of the NATO’s MC is meeting the President of Republic of Macedonia, Gjorge Ivanov, as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikola Poposki, and he is also to lay a wreath of fresh flowers at the “Fallen Heroes of Macedonia” memorial.
