Today (11 November), Minister of Defense Vlado Misajlovski confirmed at the scientific-expert forum in the House of the Army dedicated to the functionality of the defense-protective system the three main goals for the defense – intensification of the reform agenda, including the modernization of the Army, full respect of the obligations of the Ministry to its employees and Army members and the stable defense budgeting as a basis for development.
“The modernization process is proceeding according to all plans. We are implementing really significant projects with which the new, modern, sophisticated equipment according to the highest NATO standards becomes our reality,” Misajlovski said. He mentioned modernization projects, such as the procurement of JLTVs and Stryker light armored vehicles, the Mistral 3 air defense system, artillery equipment, the maintenance of the existing helicopter fleet and the procurement of new helicopters for the Army.
The Minister referred to the employees of the Army and Defense, saying that they “are professionals who lead the most serious processes in the country, while at the same time they are the first to go out in the field in support of every Macedonian citizen”.
All this is a reality, Misajlovski said, because the budget is stable and is on the rise. He announced that even in 2025, the defense budget will grow, that is, it will amount to more than 2 percent of the gross domestic product. That, the Minister pointed out, means implementation of all planned development plans.
Regarding the reform of the protection and rescue system, Minister Misajlovski said that the defense is ready to give full support to these reforms because “there is nothing more important than the security of our citizens”.
“They [citizens] expect from us an efficient, fast, well-prepared integrated system for protection and rescue and crisis management.” After all, the fires that we faced last summer were proof enough that we have to change something, there and then. Let’s detect the weaknesses of the system and together… let’s show that we know how to put the needs of every single citizen first”, the Minister emphasized.
The scientific expert panel is organized by the Club of Generals, whose members are 35 active and retired generals with significant experience gained through decades of work in the defense system. Speakers at the tribune were eminent professors and experts in the security field.
