Today, the Minister of Defense Vlado Misajlovski held a press conference at the Ministry on the occasion of the completion of the first 100 days of the new Government, whereof he talked about the undertaken activities and projects that have been implemented, those that are in the implementation phase, as well as about the future priorities of the Ministry of Defense.
Below is the integral address of Minister Misajlovski
The Government’s commitment is to have a stable, safe and prosperous country. An increased budget also means greater investments in defense capacities, investments in new modern equipment compatible with NATO standards.
In 2025, we foresee an increase in the Defense Budget, and 37% of these funds will be allocated to the modernization and equipping of the Army, that is, somewhere around 8.5 billion denars, which is 3 billion denars more than this year.
Expressed in percentages and money – we expect the proposed budget of the Ministry of Defense for 2025 to be 2.40%, that is, about 23,000,000,000 denars. 30% is planned for salaries and allowances, and 37% for equipment and modernization, i.e. 7% more than before. The execution of the Ministry’s Budget at this moment, as of 1October 2024, is 73%.
Equipping and modernization of the Army – First of all, I will tall about the modernization, which is a continuous process that strengthens the capacities of our Army. What is most important is that we, this Government, will continue to invest in defense capacities, that is, in human resources and new modern equipment. Currently, several modernization projects are in the implementation phase according to the foreseen dynamics. According to the requirements of the Army, there is ongoing procurement of light armored vehicles, armored personnel carriers, air defense equipment, helicopters, engineering machines, equipment for the special forces and other units. In addition, two weeks ago we received an assistance package of 13 million euros from the EU, which will be financed within the framework of the European Peace Fund. This assistance includes technologies related to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic warfare and communications intelligence, logistics, engineering equipment, communication and information systems. Of course, this assistance also includes training for the staff, if required.
Regarding the procurement of new equipment:
On 29 July 2024, 6 new JLTVs – light armored vehicles were received. This is part of the project that will be implemented in 2024 and 2025, whereby the Macedonian Army will receive 96 new JLTV light armored vehicles and 42 Strykers.
Last week, at the Krivolak Army training area, we had the opportunity to see some of the new equipment that has already been installed on the JLTV vehicles, and will be installed on the Strikers, a new remote-controlled armed station, a system that, in addition to providing protection of the Army members has firepower and accuracy in all conditions. But let us not forget to mention all the donations that came to us and are coming to us from the allied countries, for which I am really immensely grateful.
Regarding specific data: JLTV – light armored vehicles 96 – we currently have 38 vehicles. Additionally, 58 will come by the end of 2025. As for the Strykers – these are 42 armored personnel carriers – they should all arrive in 2025. We are also continuing with the air defense projects: a Mistral 3 missile system which includes launch mechanisms and missiles. We are also continuing with the procurement of artillery equipment: In the first quarter of 2025, the “BORAN” howitzers will also arrive. As you know, there is a signed contract for 8 eight helicopters, multi-purpose helicopters of the latest generation, four of the type 149 and four of the type 169 from the Leonardo Company pursuant to a signed Government-to-Government Agreement.
Regarding the overhaul of the two Mi8/17 helicopters, I would like to mention that this is a project that was not completed by the previous management. It was promised that the helicopters would be returned from overhaul first in May, then in June, but someone, and we all know who it is, haven’t done their job. We have taken concrete actions for implementation, with which the Macedonian army will have two more operational helicopters as of November 2024.
In terms of capital investment- First of all, I want to say that several projects have been completed in the past quarter:
reconstruction of the Biljanini Izvori anchorage in Ohrid,
reconstruction of two buildings in the Goce Delchev barracks,
rehabilitation of the heating pipe in the Petrovec barracks and in the Jane Sandanski barracks in Shtip.
And here I must point out that these projects are from the previous management, they were started, they were in the final phase and we as Ministry have completed them and what is good should be praised, and of course, continued to be upgraded.
However, the working conditions of the Army members must be up to the standards, and therefore public procurements have already been announced for the reconstruction, construction, rehabilitation and renovation of several facilities, in the barracks in Kichevo, Tetovo, Shtip and in the barracks Ilinden in Skopje, in the Military Medical Center, in the General Staff, in Krivolak, in Drenov Dol and in other facilities of the Army in the amount of an estimated value of about 151 million denars.
For the year 2025, we foresee funds for the reconstruction, renovation, rehabilitation and construction of several facilities, namely in the barracks in Shtip, Tetovo, Kichevo, Ilinden and Strasho Pindzur barracks in Skopje, also at the Krivolak Army training area, and I hope that with the new Budget we will we also provide the funds for a new Army Home, i.e. a complete reconstruction of the existing Army Home.
Regarding the care for the employees – My personal commitment is that while I am a Minister, all financial implications for the employees will be paid in a timely manner in accordance with the laws and the Collective Agreement. That is why in these three months we have taken concrete steps and secured all the financial means and for the first time, I repeat for the first time, all employees receive all compensations according to the Collective Agreement. Our priority is regular payments to employees, as well as settlement of all arrears of payments on different bases, and therefore I will do my best that we have sufficient financial resources to improve the standard of employees in the Ministry and the Army, which implies purchases of personal equipment, but also equipment that will make a significant contribution to the development of the capacities of the Macedonian Army. But what I found was a serious financial situation that was detrimental to the Ministry on the basis of executive court decisions, following lawsuits filed by Army members, who demanded the rights they are entitled to, for this year alone over 6.2 millions of euros. Or this amount has accumulated to over 17.6 million euros from 2021 onwards. This expenditure is really unnecessary, there should be a responsibility, because these financial resources, instead of being paid for court and lawsuit costs, can be used for purchasing basic elements for personal equipment.
Our goal, in addition to the financial aspect, is to have well-trained and professional staff. That is why we have already sent officers for training in higher education schools in Greece and Bulgaria, and we are sending members of the Army and employees of the Ministry to courses, training, exercises, training in the USA, Greece, Turkey, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Germany, France, Montenegro, Norway, Portugal, etc.
In the past 3 months, I have had meetings with the Ambassadors and military representatives of our strategic partners, the countries of the region and NATO, as well as a confirmation of the commitment to strengthen diplomatic relations with senior political representatives of the US Congress, the Senate and, of course, in the Pentagon during the Summit of NATO, but also during my visit to the USA for the bilateral consultations with our strategic partner.
At the Bilateral Defense Consultations in the United States that were held at the Pentagon, we confirmed the Government’s commitment to the consistent fulfillment of all commitments from the last Summit in Washington, while confirming the projections of the Defense Budget for 2025 and the modernization of the Army. I also want to emphasize that earlier at the NATO Summit, together with our colleagues from Bulgaria, Albania and Italy, we signed the first international document of this Government, the Letter of Intent to establish a harmonized corridor for military mobility within Corridor 8, for the needs of the Alliance. I want to inform you that Romania is also interested in being part of this process, so that on 17 and 18 of this month, another new annex to this agreement will be signed in Brussels, where Romania will also join.
But also in the area of regional initiatives, we marked the 25th anniversary of the formation of the Southeast Europe Brigade – SEEBRIG, as well as the 8th anniversary of the formation of the Balkan Medical Task Force.
Our contribution remains in all operations, we participate with our army members in EU and NATO missions/operations such as ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina, KFOR Kosovo, also in Latvia, Romania and Bulgaria to protect the eastern flank of the Alliance and additionally with 3 officers we participate in the UN mission – UNIFIL in Lebanon.
We also remain committed to supporting Ukraine, which has the right to defend its independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty from Russian aggression. And that is exactly why we prepared a new aid package that will soon be presented at the Government session.
Regarding the state of crisis – I want to inform that during the crisis, about 300 Army members were on standby with two aircraft. I want to inform you that with the transfer of funds, all these members will be rewarded.
What you already know is that when I became Minister of Defense, 120 people who were sent to professional development for officers and non-commissioned officers, who were promised to be employed in the Ministry, but no funds were provided in the budget or money for them, they were simply they abandoned. We made a reallocation of the funds, the funds have been secured so that we have 120 people who are already part of the defense structures, and 28 new lieutenants were also promoted.
I also want to emphasize that a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the Military Academy and the Ministry of Sports, as a result of which we will have a new gyml for the Military Academy.
In the end, as a representative of the Government, I want to reiterate that we confirm the commitment to stable defense funding, modernization of the Army, of course, the improvement of the military infrastructure, and contribution to international operations, and of course our support to Ukraine.
