A senior military delegation of the National Guard (NG) of the US state of Vermont, led by Vermont’s NG Commander, Colonel Gregory Knight, who is paying a three-day official visit to the Republic of North Macedonia, today visited the General Staff and the Ministry of Defence.
After being welcomed with high military honors, Colonel Knight had a meeting with his host, Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Vasko Gjurchinovski and Defense Minister Radmila Shekerinska.
During the reception with General Gjurchinovski, Colonel Knight, who is on his first official visit to our country as a Commander of the Vermont NG, cited the bilateral cooperation as a successful example, emphasizing that it will continue in the period following our full-fledged membership in NATO for the purpose of our complete interoperability to the required standards.
General Gjurchinovski stressed that this cooperation is especially important for us because this year our twenty-five year partnership and cooperation will be confirmed with our recent full membership in the NATO Alliance.
Following the meetings, Colonel Knight and Minister Shekerinska made statements to the media highlighting the forms and benefits of the 25-year cooperation.
During the meeting and discussions with the key personnel from the Vermont General Staff, the current situation with the process of army transformation, participation in peacekeeping missions, training and exercises were presented, and further planned activities were discussed.
After the activities in the General Staff and the Ministry of Defense, the Vermont NG Commander will also meet the President of the Republic of North Macedonia and Supreme Commander of the Army Stevo Pendarovski. Tomorrow, he will visit the Joint Operation Command and units stationed at Boro Menkov barracks in Kumanovo, and on Sunday he will attend the central celebration of the Army Day at the Water Training Center in Ohrid.
The Vermont NG is a partner of the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia in carrying out cooperation activities coordinated through the military contact program, which is an integral part of the overall bilateral cooperation between the two armies. This program is delivered through various forms of training, such as seminars, conferences, visits to military bases, school centers and institutions in the United States, conducting joint exercises and more. The military outreach program and cooperation with the Vermont NG have greatly facilitated the achievement of our Army members of NATO standards in many areas.
