On the eve of 18 August, the Army Day, a traditional ceremonial gathering of the employees of the General Staff and the Ministry of Defense took place on the plateau in front of the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff.
The Minister of Defense, Vlado Misajlovski, and the Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General, Vasko Gjurchinovski addressed the employees.
“Today we start celebrating 18 August – the Day of the Macedonian Army. A day that is dedicated to all of you, men and women who are an unshakable shield of our security and stability, of our country. A day to highlight the achievements and honor and recognize the bravery and dedication of all members of the Army. When dealing with everyday challenges and in crisis situations, you are always ready to respond. It is a proof of the values that you carry with you – honor, loyalty and integrity, while the strength and sacrifice springs from the hearts of each and every soldier”, stated Defense Minister Vlado Misajlovski.
In memory of the members of the Army who laid down their lives in the line of duty, Minister Misajlovski said: “Their memory lives on in all of us, and their courage inspires us because they showed us the true meaning of service, it is ours to continue to respect their memory.”
Congratulating them on the Day of the Army, General Gjurchinovski emphasized that he is proud of the professionalism and dedication in the work of all employees, emphasizing that in the past six years, a large number of improvements to living and working conditions and modernization have been achieved. At the end of his address, he wished the employees further success.
At today’s ceremony on the occasion of the Army Day, orders were announced for promotions to a higher rank, paid leave, plaques, badges, certificates of appreciation and other incentive measures for the members of the Army and the Ministry of Defense, as well as for organizations that contributed to the development of the defense and the Army.
As part of the ceremony, Minister of Defense Misajlovski, Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Vasko Gjurchinovski and Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Major-General Azim Nuredin and a delegation consisting of representatives of the families of the fallen defenders laid fresh flowers in front of the monument of the fallen defenders in front of the Ministry of Defense.
Earlier, wreaths with fresh flowers at the partisan cemetery, at the grave of the dead President Boris Trajkovski, former President Kiro Gligorov and at the grave of General Mihailo Apostolski were laid with military honors by delegations from the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff led by the Chief of the General Staff, the Office of the President, the Parliament, the Government, the Union of Associations of NLA Veterans, the Organization of Reserve Military Officers, the city of Skopje and others.
The official gathering of the employees of the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff was attended by the Deputy Minister of Defense, Elfet Ismaili, the Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Major General Azim Nuredin and the State Secretary Elizabeta Chupovska Ristova.
At the same time, the Army holiday was celebrated with military ceremonies in the commands and units of the Army in all the barracks in the Republic.
The central ceremony on the occasion of the Army Day will be held on 18 August at the Water Training Center in Ohrid, which will be attended by the highest military and state leaders.
