Macedonia, Norway cooperation in security reforms exceptional
Defense Minister Zoran Konjanovski pays on May 27 2009 an official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.
The visit of Minister Konjanovski to Norway was the first official visit of a Macedonian Defense Minister to the Kingdom of Norway. It is a follow-up of last year’s first official visit of a Norwegian Defense Minister and it represents a confirmation of the enhancement of the bilateral defense relations and friendly ties between the two countries.
Macedonia and Norway have recently strengthened their defense cooperation by declaring a significant joint military medical contribution to the ISAF operation in Afghanistan. After the deployment of the first Macedonian – Norwegian military medical surgical team in Afghanistan in December 2008, there are ongoing preparations for deploying the second rotation of the joint military medical team to be deployed in Afghanistan on 02 June this year.
Following the recent official visit of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia, Nikola Gruevski to Norway in November 2008, the visit of Minister Konjanovski is yet another confirmation of the common commitment for strengthening the partner and friendly ties, as well as for the support of the Kingdom of Norway to the efforts of the Republic of Macedonia for full Euro-Atlantic integration.
In the course of his visit (27-28 May), minister Konjanovski met with the Norwegian Defense Minister, Army Chief of Staff and the President of the Parliamentary Commission for Defense.
NATO's further enlargement, participation in international operations, regional security developments and possibilities for further strengthening of bilateral defense cooperation were the topics of discussion at the meetings.
Cooperation between Macedonia and Norway in the field of security reforms is at a high level and developing rather fast, agreed Norwegian and Macedonian Defense Ministers, Anne-Grete Strom-Erichsen and Zoran Konjanovski respectively.
Erichsen confirmed Norway's strong support for Macedonia's full-fledged NATO membership, expressing hope that the name issue would be settled soon.
"Macedonia membership is very important for the Alliance, but also for regional security. We will do everything to bring Macedonia into NATO as full-fledged member in the near future", said Erichsen after the meeting.
According to her, NATO is an organization that stimulates dialogue, adding, "If you take a look at the Balkan map, you will see it is obvious that Macedonia needs to be a part of the Alliance".
DM Konjanovski expressed gratitude for the support, announcing enlarged cooperation with the Norwegian Defense Ministry.
Interlocutors also focused on cooperation in military health, with Erichsen announcing a donation of a medical field hospital.
Norway will donate an easily maneuverable field hospital to Macedonia in the frameworks of the strengthened partnership in the defense area.
Revealing details on the visit of the Macedonian Defense Minister Zoran Konjanovski to Norway, the statement says: "This exceptionally expensive and valuable donation of Norway will contribute to improved implementation of the forthcoming reforms in the Macedonian army health care, which along with the overall efforts in the defense field are aimed at affirming Macedonia as a credible partner of NATO."
The two defense ministers also emphasized the importance of regional cooperation, but also development of regional centers for cooperation in the sectors of military health and communication centers.
"We will have to resume with the reform process in military health, in order to equip staff for such a hospital", added Konjanovski.
Moreover, Minister Konjanovski promoted regional training center Krivolak, which would serve for training of troops for peacekeeping missions abroad.
Konjanovski and Erichsen agreed that the joint Macedonia-Norway medical team in Afghanistan functions excellently, meeting all required standards.
"During my visit to Afghanistan prior to Easter I saw that Macedonian troops in the provincial reconstruction teams are true professionals", stated Erichsen.
In the period from June 1-5 2009, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence of the Kingdom of Norway, a workshop “Train the Trainer” was being held in the Regional Communications Training Centre by the Department for Education and Training of the Ministry of Defense.
This Workshop arose as a result of the successful cooperation between the Ministries of Defense of the Republic of Macedonia and the Kingdom of Norway and it has the goal to train new instructor personnel from the MOD and ARM, who in the future would work to carry out teaching and training in the Regional Communications Training Center.
The five-day training is carried out by experts in the field of public relations from the Kingdom of Norway and it represents the first phase of the cycle of workshops “Train the Trainer”.
The training is being carried out in English, and the topics that are covered during the first phase of the training are from the field of media training (interview preparation, preparation for public announcements), techniques for presenting, communications strategy and planning, the meaning of the media in the process of informing in conditions of war, group dynamics and manners of selecting and exercising best methods for teaching, crisis communication and creating a dynamic teaching program.
After the completion of the cycle of workshops, the candidates will receive certificates for trainer and will be actively involved in the work of the Regional Communications Training Center.
Reference:
- Ministry of Defense, Republic of Macedonia http://www.morm.gov.mk
- Makfax News Agency http://www.makfax.com.mk
- IDIVIDI News Agency http://www.idividi.com.mk
- MIA Macedonian Information Agency http://mia.com.mk
- PIMS Members site https://members.pims.org