The regular annual briefing for the Defense Attachés was held today (18 December) at the Public Affairs Regional Center in the “Goce Delchev” barracks in Skopje, where the Minister of Defense Vlado Misajlovski, the Chief of the General Staff of the Army, Major General Sashko Lafchiski and the Doyen of the Association of Defense Attachés, the Croatian Defense Attaché Colonel Stjepan Domjancic addressed the attendees.
In his address, Minister Misajlovski emphasized that today’s briefing, as well as the meetings held with the Defense Attachés, is a clear proof of our commitment to bilateral and multilateral defense policy and cooperation.
“Both my homeland and the countries you represent are part of a global international order that can function and guarantee the safety of its citizens only if we cooperate sincerely and dedicatedly and if we have one goal in front of us – and that is peace, stability and democracy,” Misajlovski said.
Misajlovski also referred to the future development of the defense and the Army and the defense budget, of which 32 percent is intended for modernization and equipment.
“Compared to 2024, that is over 18 million euros more for new and modern equipment, for a stronger Army, for stronger collective defense in NATO. It is another indisputable proof that our country is an active and dedicated ally,” Minister Misajlovski pointed out.
The three development priorities in the defense – stable budgeting, the strengthening of the modernization process and full respect for the rights and obligations towards the employees, have been successfully implemented, Misajlovski said and added that we will continue to work in the same way next year.
General Lafchiski thanked the Defense Attachés for their help in building and modernizing our defense capacities through bilateral cooperation, but also through numerous training activities.
“Next year, 2025, this support, this cooperation will also be with you, but the support we will receive from the Ministry and the Government will be even more pronounced,” he emphasized.
Colonel Stjepan Domjančić thanked the leadership of the Ministry and the General Staff for the opportunity to hear first-hand the messages about the development of the defense sector and emphasized that the country is a recognized and valued member of NATO and that the Macedonian foreign policy is fully aligned with the foreign and security policy of the European Union.
The briefing with the Defense Attachés gives a full overview of the mutual cooperation in the past year and the steps to be taken next year, 2025, are also discussed.
