Skopje, 27 March 2024 (MIA) – With a demonstration exercise, the promotion of two postage stamps and recognitions for members of the Army, an event Wednesday in front of the Ministry of Defense marked four years since North Macedonia’s NATO accession, as well as 32 years since the establishment of the General Staff of the Army.

“On this day in 2020 we showed where we belong, what our shared values are and where our place is as a country that has always strived for peace, democracy, security and stability. But this date has another historical importance as well – it is a key date for the creation of a sovereign and independent Macedonia,” Defense Minister Slavjanka Petrovska said in her address at the event.

She stressed that on the same date in 1992, the conditions were created for the establishment of the Macedonian Army.

“The first March 27 affirmed our determination for an independent and autonomous country, while the second March 27 reinforced our security and stability. By joining NATO we explicitly chose our way – stability and alliance over destructive behavior,” Petrovska said, adding that “NATO is not a threat to anyone, instead it exists to protect itself.”

“Our history shows that we are promoting stability, equality and dialogue. As a member of the Alliance we must be prepared and we must responsibly strengthen our society’s system of resilience. This is a serious challenge that we must tackle,” the Minister said, stressing that the Army will continue to develop and modernize.

The Deputy Prime Minister for European affairs, Bojan Marichikj, said by joining NATO four years ago, the country ensured its territorial integrity and the security of the citizens.

“This is the case because we are among democracies, among visionaries, and because we are here for each other, one for all and all for one – side by side with the most developed countries in the world. Fairly soon after our accession we had a chance to see what the alternatives look like and confirm that there has never been and there will never be a better alternative for us. The images of horror in Ukraine show that NATO membership is the best goal we’ve managed to achieve for our citizens,” said Marichikj.

The Director of the General Staff of the Army, Brigadier General Simeon Trajkovski, said that for the first time Wednesday’s event officially marks March 28 – the Day of the General Staff of the Army, a day on which the General Staff began its operations by taking over the premises of the Defense Ministry from the Yugoslav People's Army.

“The beginnings were difficult, we worked hard with great enthusiasm and patriotism in order to begin organizational planning, management and command in the context of the fulfillment of the Army’s constitutional task to secure the country’s borders and protect its territorial integrity and sovereignty,” the Director of the General Staff said.

Trajkovski said the country’s NATO accession in 2020 was a new challenge for the General Staff, which managed to achieve full integration with the NATO military structure in just 18 months.

“All activities and achievements of the General Staff over the past 32 years are proof that the Army is on the right path which was explicitly outlined with the first action plan for NATO membership,” Trajkovski said.

Photo: MIA