Skopje, 24 December 2021 (MIA) – President Stevo Pendarovski was briefed Friday on combat readiness in 2021. Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Vasko Gjurchinovski and General Staff director, Major General Zoran Milevski presented to President Pendarovski, Defence Minister Radmila Shekerinska, Army generals and delegations from the President’s Office and the Ministry of Defense the situation and realization of planned activities on combat readiness. “They briefed top officials on the realized tasks and achievements of the Army in 2021, as well as on the priorities for 2022, covering the areas of personnel management and moral, national and foreign operations, trainings and exercises, logistical support, military planning and structure of forces, relations and communications, budgeting and military-civilian cooperation. General Gjurchinovski also underlined the Army’s readiness to undertake activities within the process of achieving NATO goals,” the General Staff said in a press release. Participants stressed at the briefing the efforts and professionalism of armed forces in implementation of tasks and activities, as well as their readiness to assist state institutions and citizens. Minister Shekerinska told the event that in 2021, North Macedonia marked its first anniversary as a member of NATO, noting that the country has successfully passed this test. “We worked hard on military integration and finished the process in record time. This is a continuation of the successful implementation of the Defense Ministry’s policy that started by increasing the budget, procuring new equipment, NATO membership and overall strengthening of Army capacities,” the Minister said. Shekerinska underlined that in 2021, North Macedonia joined NATO’s air policing mission. “This further strengthened our sovereignty and territorial integrity,” she added. Moreover, the Minister said that the first five officers who will represent the country in NATO command structures in Izmir, Mons and Brussels have already been chosen, while the selection of seven more is underway. “We added staff to North Macedonia’s Permanent Delegation to NATO, as well as the liaisons office within SHAPE. Having in mind the danger of modern security challenges, we signed a memorandum for cooperation with NATO in the area of cyber security, an area in which we also closely cooperate with strategic partner, the US,” Shekerinska underlined, adding that after four and a half years of intense activities, the Army has been completely transformed and conditions have been created so that it can further develop in line with NATO standards and in cooperation with allies. In his address, President and Supreme Commander of the Army Forces, Stevo Pendarovski, expressed at the briefing satisfaction over the level of professionalism, commitment and sacrifice of Army members in managing the pandemic and wildfires in North Macedonia. He underlined that investing in Army modernization and equipment must continue noting that strengthening defense capacities and potentials benefit the Army, as well as economic development and the living standard. “Regardless of the fact that the health and energy crisis have pressured us to have different budget priorities, North Macedonia must remain committed to investing in defense and security, the foundation for the functioning of other sectors,” President Pendarovski said. He also told participants that he signed last month the joint NATO declaration, officially wrapping up the country’s integration process and stressed that membership helps us manage better old and new security threats.