On October 29-31 Chief of Defence of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Lieutenant General Gorancho Koteski is conducting a formal visit in Lithuania. On Thursday, October 30, Lt Gen G. Koteski met with Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas at the Ministry of National Defence, Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Arvydas Pocius, and other representatives of the MOD and the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
The meeting officials addressed bilateral military cooperation of Lithuanian and FYROM, its perspectives, relations of NATO and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the countries' participation in multinational operations, and other points.
"Our states have shared defence ambitions, furthermore, we face the same global challenges and send our troops to the same multinational operations," Minister J.Olekas said at the meeting also stressing that Lithuania was keen on enhancing partnership with interested countries like the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Minister of National Defence expressed his support to FYROM's NATO membership aspirations. "We are prepared to share with you our experience along the way towards NATO. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has made a great progress in implementing internal reforms. Your commitments for international security are also obvious. Therefore I am convinced that your country will manage to become NATO and EU member in the short run", Minister J.Olekas said.
The Minister also praised the country's resolve to continue with its durable commitment to contribute to the mission in Afghanistan after 2014. "It is probable that our military will be serving in the mission in Afghanistan after 2014 shoulder-to-shoulder which will provide one more reason for the strength of our cooperation," the Minister of National Defence said.
FYROM Chief of Defence Lt Gen Gorancho Koteski thanked J.Olekas for a warm reception and extended congratulations regarding Lithuania's Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The guest also thanked the Lithuanian Ministers for the opportunity of sharing experience via military cooperation.
Minister J.Olekas notified Lt Gen G. Koteski that Lithuania will organise a conference in 2014 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of our country as NATO member state. "I believe it will be a wonderful opportunity to exchange views on further NATO enlargement, to discuss the experience of NATO membership, and plans for the future. We have already invited your Minister of Defence Talat Xhaferi to attend the event in Vilnius and will be a pleasure for me to meet with him," the Lithuanian Minister said concluding the meeting.
Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Arvydas Pocius and other representatives of the Lithuanian Armed Forces presented to the guest relevant matters of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, characteristic features of administration of military conscription and manning. The Lithuanian Chief of Defence also introduced the cooperation among the three Baltic States as a model of efficient regional defence cooperation.
According to Lithuanian Chief of Defence Lt Gen A. Pocius, armies of both countries are interested in the possibilities of cooperation in the areas of military training and collaboration of military medicine experts. Lithuanian specialists also shared their experience in implementing airspace control not only in the context of national but also collective defence - Lithuania is a part of the NATO Integrated Air Defence System (NATINADS) and hosts NATO's Baltic Air policing assets and personnel.
On October 31 Lt Gen G. Koteski will continue to touring the divisions of Rukla Garrison: Lithuanian Great Hetman Jonušas Radvila Training Regiment, Juozas Lukša Training Centre of the Lithuanian Land Force and the headquarters of the Motorised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf in Rukla.
It is the first visit by the Chief of Defence of FYROM in Lithuania. Lithuanian Chief of Defence Lt Gen Arvydas Pocius conducted a formal visit to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in 2012.
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is seeking NATO membership (in 1999 the Membership Action Plan (MAP) was approved for the country), in 2005 FYROM was granted candidate country status for EU membership.
Military personnel of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia actively participate in NATO and EU-led multinational operations. Currently the country's military serve in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan and the Operation EUFOR Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and also contributes to NATO's operation (KFOR) in Kosovo. Lithuania and FYROM develop cooperation in the area of military training.
POC - Spokesperson to the Chief of Defence of Lithuania Capt Skomantas Povilionis, phone no. 00370 682 25 359.
Photos by Ieva Budzeikaitė (MOD)
