Skopje, 27 May 2025 (MIA) - Stojanche Angelov has been appointed new acting director of the Protection and Rescue Directorate (PRD). As agreed with Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, he has been dismissed from the position of Crisis Management Center (CMC) director and assumes the new post on Tuesday.

Angelov said he would work towards merging the two agencies, in line with the Government's strategic objective of setting up a contemporary and integrated crisis management and protection and rescue system able to respond to all challenges and risks, fully aligned with EU and NATO standards.

"Together with the staff, we will try to overcome the detected shortcomings, for the purpose of putting the PRD back to its full capacity, followed by its merger with the CMC, towards setting up a contemporary and integrated crisis management and protection and rescue system able to respond to all challenges and risks, fully aligned with EU and NATO standards," said Angelov.

According to him, the PRD has been in agony for a while, considering the lack of pilots for the fire-fighting aircraft and problems related to the aircraft's maintenance.

"The rapid response teams and the fire-fighting teams are out of contract, some members lack the required equipment, training and physical fitness," he added.

MIA file photo