Kumanovo, 3 August 2021 (MIA) – Defence Minister Radmila Shekerinska visited Tuesday the members of the Army, who were engaged in bringing the Kokino wildfire under control and thanked them and all members of the Protection and Rescue Directorate as well as the local population of the municipality of Kumanovo. She said that only by working together we can tackle wildfires that pose serious threat to the life and health of our citizens and the beautiful nature. She said that in line with the decision of the President and Supreme Commander, over 1,000 Army members are ready to be deployed where it is necessary. She reminded that Army members have already been deployed on land and in the air at 13 sites to help with firefighting efforts. Army members from several units were sent to the Kokino site near Kumanovo to join firefighting efforts. Operations Command Commander, General Besnik Emini said army members have been at the site since the early hours of the morning right after the President and Supreme Commander ordered the army to help battling blazes in coordination with the Defence Ministry “The soldiers have retreated because it is risky after being deployed at three locations and after the air force got involved,” Emini said adding soldiers have been sent to 13 locations. Air Force Commander, Lieutenant Stojko Pejovski said helicopters have been sent to two locations to extinguish the wildfire in Kochani, adding helicopter units are expected to be deployed in the region near Kokino. He said that the situation is being closely monitored. Commander of the first mechanized infantry brigade, Lieutenant Sashko Lafchiski said that after the wildfire broke out, 30 army members while gravitating in the area had called the firefighting brigade and started putting out the fire. “They have been replaced and now 60 soldiers are in Kokino,” he said noting the situation is stable, but the soldiers remain vigilant. Minister Shekerinska said that some of her counterparts from the region said they will send help to tackle the blazes. “After initial announcements for help from Serbia and Bulgaria, we received a response from Slovenia, and it is expected from other countries in our neighborhood, which shows that as neighbors we can help each other,” Shekerinska said. According to her, this also shows great solidarity by our neighbors and our allies. The wildfires, Shekerinska added, unfortunately united the entire Balkans and the wider region, referring also to the wildfires ravaging Turkey, Greece and Albania. The government, she noted, will ban movement in these areas for several days, but also, as she said, we need to improve the system for protection and rescue. “The Army has demonstrated once again its readiness in providing help in most difficult and dangerous situations,” Shekerinska added. sk/ba/