The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov received today Major General Michael Dubie, Vermont National Guard Commander.

President Ivanov and Major General Dubie hold regular meetings within the frames of the longstanding military cooperation between Macedonia and the State of Vermont. Namely, the situation and the achievements made during the joint peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan were discussed at the meeting, which was also attended by Defence Minister Fatmir Besimi, Chief of Staff, Major General Gorancho Koteski and the newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Macedonia, Paul Wohlers.

Macedonia and Vermont conduct coordinated actions within the mission in Afghanistan with an aim to secure stability in this country and to promote the establishment of a democratic society.

President Ivanov at the meeting once again stressed the importance of a joint contribution to preserving peace and freedom in the world, especially in regions fighting to overcome destabilization for a longer period. In today’s global governance, as President Ivanov said, the problems faced by one state cannot remain isolated and thus, neglecting stability in one part of the world, such as Afghanistan, can generate negative consequences in other regions.

Major General Dubie underscored the great engagement of the Macedonian army into peacekeeping operations, adding that the U.S. highly appreciates Macedonia’s continuous contribution, reflecting a true and profound friendship between two countries. He expressed gratitude to the Republic of Macedonia for the engagement of the Macedonian troops, especially in the ISAF mission.

The interlocutors concluded that Macedonia deserves to formally join NATO as soon as possible, thus additionally contributing to the progress and development of the Balkans. The Partnership between the Republic of Macedonia and the federal State of Vermont was launched in 2005 as a military cooperation between the Army of the Republic of Macedonia and the Vermont National Guard through the State Partnership Program of the U.S. European Command. Over the years, the cooperation was expanded into many spheres, including public services, crisis management, economic development, energy, sports...