Today, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, made her first official visit to the Army General Staff and the Ministry of Defence, in the course of which she held meetings with the Minister of Defence, Vlado Misajlovski, with the Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Vasko Gjurchinovski, and with the generals in the Army and senior MoD personnel.
After the reception with military honours, the Chief of the General Staff and the Minister of Defence in the presence of the generals in the Army and senior MoD and GS personnel presented the current situation, the processes of transformation and modernization and equipping, the training and the activities that are important for performing the Army mission, as well as the participation in operations that contribute to collective security.
President Siljanovska Davkova emphasized that the Army, as the most trusted institution in the country and a proven ally in the Alliance, needs further investment to improve the living and working conditions in all accommodation facilities, as well as in the Krivolak training area.
The President expressed her expectation that the Army will continue with the same commitment to fulfil its constitutional duty to protect the territorial integrity and independence as they have done to date, and that the army members will continue to be an example of professionalism, discipline and dedication, as befits a NATO member state.
At the tête-à-tête meeting between Minister Misajlovski and President Siljanovska Davkova, the commitment to promoting security, peace and stability in the country, the region, Europe and beyond was reaffirmed. The interlocutors agreed that Macedonia needs to have a fast economic progress, a secure and stable future.
Minister Misajlovski and President Siljanovska Davkova emphasized that the members of the Army enjoy the greatest respect and trust among Macedonian citizens and that they will take every effort to ensure the continuous development and progress of the defence. In that context, they emphasized that the Macedonian Army deserves to have modern equipment, and its members deserve the opportunity for development and career advancement.
Misajlovski and Siljanovska Davkova discussed future investments in the defence sector and modernization, strengthening of international defence cooperation with allies and partners, as well as improvement of the standards and working conditions of the members of the Army.
In the context of collective security, Misajlovski stressed that we will actively contribute in operations to protect the region and the eastern flank of the Alliance.
At the meeting with General Gjurchinovski, the expectations in the implementation of the planned processes and the possible challenges that we may face in the areas of importance for the functioning of the Army were also mentioned.
The President as the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, in accordance with the legal provisions, is responsible for most of the essential issues in the defence, including the adoption of the defence strategy and plan, the organization and formation of the Army, the combat readiness regulations and the appointment of the main leadership positions in the Army with the rank of general.
