The Chief of the ARM General Staff, Lieutenant General Metodija Velichkovski, yesterday, in London had an official meeting with the Chief of the General Staff of the British Army, General Ser Nicholas Patrick Carter.
In this, unprecedented, meeting between the Chiefs of the GSs of both Armies, many issues were raised among which are: the migrant crisis and security threats for the South-East European countries; possibilities for deepening the bilateral cooperation through carrying out joint trainings and usage of the ARM capacities (Army Training Area Krivolak); possibly joint participation in international missions under the UN flag and other.
General Velichkovski expressed gratitude for the logistic support provided by the UK to our contingent during their joint participation during the ISAF peacekeeping mission, where we had the unique opportunity to present our armed forces and our country as a confident and reliable partner, as well as for providing education for ARM officers at Military Academies in the UK and at the Training Academy in Wyszkow, Poland.
Both interlocutors emphasized the need for partnership between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Macedonia, which is of a strategic importance, especially in this period when terrorist threats and the migrant crisis are a current threat for destabilization of all European countries.
General Ser Nicholas Patrick Carter expressed his gratitude for the contribution the ARM is making in the peace-support missions led by NATO and the role it has in dealing with the migrant crisis, and he also agree with General Velichkovski’s statement about the need to integrate Macedonia in the NATO alliance.
General Velichkovski also had a meeting with the ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia in Great Britain, Mr. Jovan Donev where the current safety situation and the forthcoming NATO summit in Warsaw were discussed.
During their stay in the UK, the ARM delegation is going to visit the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom in Shrivenham and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in Camberley, where they are to attend the ceremony called ‘Sovereign’s parade’, which is held to mark the passing out from Sandhurst of Officer Cadets who have completed the Commissioning Course.