Skopje, 30 September 2022 (MIA) – As part of an event organized Friday by the Protection and Rescue Directorate, 14 municipalities received new firefighting vehicles and equipment. At the event in Skopje, citizens had a chance to get introduced to the Directorate’s protection and rescue equipment, as well as the equipment of the other participants in the event. Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski in his address at the event stated that the emergency situations, disasters and accidents have taught us of the need to create a common and complex system of all the institutions, in order to be able to come up with quick and efficient solutions. Because of this, he said, this event is of particular importance. “Today we are handing over new firefighting vehicles to 14 municipalities in the City of Skopje, Bitola, Kumanovo, Tetovo, Prilep, Veles, Kavadarci, Gevgelija, Strumica, Kichevo, Ohrid, Kochani, Shtip and Gostivar. Thereby significantly improving their technical equipment,” said Kovachevski. He stated that the firefighting vehicles were procured through the Protection and Rescue Directorate at a cost of 42.5 million denars. By doing so, he said, they are fulfilling the promise made to the citizens for the procurement of such vehicles. “The Government remains committed to fulfilling the conditions which enable the fire department and other civil protection bodies to carry out efficient operations and interventions. It is especially important that these investments are carried out preemptively, with the aim of upgrading the fire department before the next critical period, i.e., before the next summer season,” said the PM. The head of the Protection and Rescue Directorate, Bekim Maksuti, said that the aim of the event is to draw attention to the role and importance of the protection and rescue system, and to raise awareness of the importance of preparation in dealing with various natural disasters and other accidents, and at the same time to present the new firefighting vehicles. He also emphasized the necessity of reforming the existing structures of the protection and rescue system, and creating new ones. Besides the presentation of the protection and rescue equipment, several demonstration exercises were held at the event as well. ad/ba/