06.05.2015.
Meeting of chiefs of staff of Serbia and Macedonia
Chief of General Staff of Serbian Armed Forces General Ljubisa Dikovic met today with Chief of General Staff of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia Lieutenant General Goranco Koteski. Discussing the present cooperation, General Dikovic stressed that it was at a very high level, reminding that 2014 was marked by 23 joint activities. He thanked his Macedonian colleague on the help the Army of the Republic of Macedonia sent to our country during the natural disasters, when they were the first to refer a special unit of 75 members, 45 water pumps and 35 aggregates, and constantly deployed in defence of TPP Nikola Tesla from the floods.
- This is a unique opportunity for us to analyze the present cooperation and establish the grounds and prepare everything for the meeting of the ministers which will take place this year, with the goal of continuing and improving cooperation in accordance with the improved potentials and capacities of both armed forces – General Dikovic stressed, stating that cooperation had already been established in the fields of training, education, further training and military medicine.
According to him, the goal is to share capacities, for which all conditions have been created.- The Army of the Republic of Macedonia has developed a good center for training helicopter pilots and they possess contemporary training aircraft that can be used in training. On the other hand, our Armed Forces develop CBRN capacities on regional level and beyond. Also, there are the capacities of South base and technical overhaul institutions, and logistics training centers that the Army of the Republic of Macedonia needs are always available to them for training and further training, and any other for of cooperation – General Dikovic stated, adding that the today’s meeting would certainly also be focused on potential security challenges in this area.
General Koteski agreed with his Serbian colleague’s assessment that the relations between the Serbian Armed Forces and the Army of the Republic of Macedonia are excellent.
- We primarily discussed the field of education, the capacities for training of members of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia, and our education capacities. We also exchanged opinions on joint deployment in multinational operations under the auspices of UN, EU and NATO – General Koteski said, adding that they also mentioned a possibility of forming crisis response units, primarily for natural disasters.
When it comes to cooperation, General Koteski offered as the Chief of the General Staff the capacities of Krivolak training ground, and the school for training of pilots, one of the most modern ones in the Balkans.- I am certain that this visit will give new impulse for continuation and improvement of cooperation between the two armies, and that it will follow the policy of governments of Serbia and Macedonia on the matter of strengthening security and defence in the region – General Koteski stated.
Yesterday, General Koteski laid wreaths on the Monument to the Unknown Hero on Avala, and in the further course of the visit, the Macedonian delegation will tour the Training Center via simulation, the Military and Military Medical Academy, and South base.
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