”We can be proud of our soldiers and their readiness, alongside other armies, to take part in such complex military missions. The Army of the Republic of Macedonia is ready, for all operations where invited, to follow all new endeavors. Our determination is to nurture and persist on our strategic goals”, the President of the Republic of Macedonia and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov said, who, along with the Minister of Defence, Fatmir Besimi, the Chief of Staff of the Army, Major General Goranco Koteski, the Commander of Madrid NATO Command, Alfredo Cardona, attended today the largest international exercise “Cooperative Longbow/Lancer 2012”, at the army field Krivolak”.

Asked whether following the NATO Summit in Chicago, Macedonia would again address the International Court of Justice in The Hague, President Ivanov clearly stated that there is a judgment which must be respected, whereas the legal team monitors all possible aspects, taking into consideration that again we are faced with violation of the Interim Accord by Greece.

”The team of lawyers was hired to monitor all events. What is most beneficial for the Republic of Macedonia will be undertaken“, President Ivanov said.

Sequences of the exercise along with demonstrations were featured to the present at the army field “Krivolak”: critical point crossing, urban environment patrolling, handling improvised explosive devices on the road and headquarter securing. Thus, the exercise finished successfully which was taking place in the past ten days at the army field Krivolak. As Minister Besimi stressed, the Macedonian Brigade received positive marks and is ready to participate within the EU peacekeeping forces.

The main purpose of the exercise was to increase the level of interoperability and readiness of the units, to train headquarters’ staff according to NATO standards, and to evaluate the declared units of the Army in compliance with Operational Capabilities Concept.

In the exercise “Cooperative Longbow/Lancer 2012” participated about 2.200 soldiers, out of whom 1.697 army personnel, and the rest were members of the armed forces of Azerbaijan, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Serbia, Ukraine, Montenegro and Switzerland as PfP members, as well as from NATO member states participated members of the armies of the United States and Spain.