Today, 28th February, in Ilinden barracks in Skopje a celebration in honour of the Special Operations Regiment, a 20th jubilee of the Special Operation Forces was held. Following guests were present at the celebration: the Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Gorancho Koteski, MoD general secretary Sasho Stefanovski, representatives from the President of the Republic of Macedonia office, representatives from the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, representatives from the MoD, the commanders of the ARM units, local government representatives and other guests.
“Jubilees are celebrated in order our successes to be remembered. They are part of our history and a motivation for the development of the Army as a pillar of the defence system of the Republic of Macedonia. You have the honour and the obligation to continue the path of success which was started by your colleagues twenty years ago”, said the Chief of General Staff of ARM Lieutenant General Gorancho Koteski addressing the Special Operations regiment personnel.
General Koteski stressed that the high rating and respect which the regiment personnel have is gained by unselfish commitment and persistence being part of the people and always ready to help in difficult moments. CGS also stressed the exceptional achievements of Macedonian “Wolves” and “Rangers” as part of the five year participation in the “Iraqi Freedom” mission as well as ISAF mission “Phoenix”. This period of the history of the special operations regiment is marked with a numerous decorations and certificates delivered by our partners and by NATO alliance, stated General Koteski.
The Minister of Defence, Talat Gjaferi, was on a business trip in Brussels but he sent a telegram in which he emphasized the professionalism and commitment when performing their tasks as a confirmation that the regiment’s personnel are the best of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia. This fact is well known among our partners and friends in NATO headquarters in Brussels, said the Minister in his telegram.
The MOD state secretary, Sasho Stefanoski, congratulated the jubilee and spoke about the strategic priorities of the Republic of Macedonia and the regiment’s contribution in fulfillment of these priorities. “Republic of Macedonia sees its future as part of the two Euro-Atlantic organizations, NATO and EU. Our country is fully prepared to take the responsibilities and obligations which will come as a future NATO and EU member which includes a long term contribution to the regional and Euro-Atlantic security and stability’ stressed Mr. Stefanoski.
The commander of the SOR, Brigadier General Vasko Gjurchinovski, said that Special Forces servicemen and their hard work, commitment, performances professionalism and high standards are an example and a motivation for the other ARM units. He thanked all the institutions who have contributed to the development of the SOR and promised that SOR servicemen have the obligation to continue walking on the road they started on the 1st of May 1994.
A significant number of SOR servicemen were given stimulation awards and the celebration ended with a SOR unit’s defile.
On the 1st of March 1994 Special Operations Battalion was formed as a basis for Special Operations Detachment which was later transformed into Special Operations Regiment.
