ARM 12 Years Ambassador of Peace / [Text Toni Janevski
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The photograph on the cover page and pages 5 and 6: A panoramic view of the Kabul from the hill at the periphery of the city called “Antena Hill“ where the ARM members participating in the ISAF mission carried out patrols with the APCs “Hermelin“. The photograph was taken during a visit of a military delegation at Easter 2007. CONTENTS: Address by the Minister of Defence................................................................ 7 Address by the Chief of ARM General Staff............................................... 11 Preface to the Publication................................................................................. 15 1. ISAF – International Security Assistance Force Afghanistan – The Beginning of the Story …........................................................................… 19 2. The Macedonian Contingent in Isaf – From Symbolic Participation to Equal Partner........................................................................ 23 3. Type, Size and Composition of Units from the Macedonian Contingent in the ISAF Mission…………………………………………….........….. 27 4. The Mission and Tasks of the Macedonian Contingent in Company Strength........................................................................................... 31 5. Task Force PHOENIX....................................................................................... 43 6. Operational Mentor and Liaison Teams - OMLT within ISAF………........................................................................................ 45 7. ARM Medical Teams in the ISAF............................................................... 51 8. Staff Officers in the ISAF.............................................................................. 55 9. Senior National Representative in the ISAF......................................... 61 10. Most Common Threats............................................................................... 65 11. Received Decorations................................................................................... 67 12. Dignified Presentation in the Non-Combat Segment of the Mission Life and Work ......................................................................... 69 13. Financial Implications................................................................................... 73 14. What Have Others Said About Our Participation in the ISAF.... 74 15. CEREMONY on the occasion of the completion of the ISAF mission and the participation of the ARM in this mission ................ 77 16. About the ARM in the ISAF....................................................................... 78 5 Zoran Jolevski Defence Minister of the Republic of Macedonia our capacities and capabilities, to the Alliance's efforts for establishing peace and security and the respect for the essen - tial human rights and freedoms, initially as part of Iraqi Freedom, followed by the ISAF Mission in Afghanistan. The mission of the NATO Alliance in Afghanistan ISAF, officially completed on the last day of 2014, will always have a special place in our memories. This is our heritage, and our contribution to world peace and stability. The participation in the ISAF mission for us was a source of enormous pride and a responsiblity. The political commitment to supporting the Alliance's efforts in this Asian country is clearly visible through the actual presence of peacekeeping forces from the Army of the Republic of Macedonia in this part of the world. Not only that, the members of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia, Ladies and Gentlemen, aware of the benefits of living in a For over two decades, the Republic of peaceful and prosperous environment, Macedonia has been living its dream - our knew that their mission was a noble mission citizens live in a free, sovereign and inde - – democratization of the country, respect pendent state which fully incorporates for every human being, respect for all gen - the European, i.e. the contemporary values, der, religious and human diversities. Over such as democracy, human rights and 2,700 Macedonian peacekeepers knew that freedoms as well as equality on all grounds. that was the only way to create a climate Our country was the only country that man - for social development, better health serv - aged to gain independence and sovereignty ice, better education for the young Afghans, in a peaceful manner in the process of because that was the future and the way dissolution of Yugoslavia. ahead. Consequently, the Republic of Macedonia The purpose and mission of the members in its very recent history has grown from a of the Army derives from the overall politi - consumer to a provider of these contempo - cal commitment of the Republic of Macedo - rary values. The process of integration into nia, its President, Government, Assembly the European Union and the NATO Alliance and, most importantly, the citizens of has enabled us to contribute, by utilizing Macedonia. It is exceptionally positive to 7 mention that the decisions of the Govern - gents in ISAF, funds from the citizens of the ment of the Republic of Macedonia, in the Republic of Macedonia to the citizens of 12 years of continuous presence as part of Afghanistan, which sufficiently demon - the ISAF, were always made with the full strates the sincere and serious approach of and absolute support of the Assembly of our citizens to the efforts of the Alliance the Republic of Macedonia. This happens and ISAF. only in the case of the decisions on the par - One of the major missions of the Alliance ticipation of the members of the Army in in - in its recent history ended with the end of ternational peacekeeping missions. The 2014. This mission left behind a new infra - political consensus on this issue clearly indi - structure, new hospitals, new schools. It left cates that the consciousness and con - room for the Afghans to take care of their science of the political actors in the country and their future on their own. This Republic of Macedonia is highly developed is a priceless legacy. However, it is a legacy and firmly committed to spreading a cli - that does not come without a heavy price. mate of equality and prosperity. After all, Many members of the coalition forces have the Republic of Macedonia with its history laid their lives on the path towards a united is the true link in the chain called the inter - and free Afghanistan. Many were injured, national community, which can realistically trying to reach the ultimate goal. Their sac - and clearly assess to what extent these val - rifice will not be forgotten. ues are important for the human well- As Minister of Defence of the Republic of being. Macedonia, I would like to thank all the The third pillar of support are the citizens members of the Army of Republic of Mace - of the Republic of Macedonia. The high sup - donia for their immeasurable devotion, sac - port for Macedonia’s accession to the Al - rifice, courage and dedication in carrying liance “de facto” indicates that the citizens out all the tasks that they have been en - of our country fully share the values and vi - trusted with. This claim is not only ours. The sion of the countries – NATO members, in - international community, the leadership of cluding the vision behind a democratic, NATO and the ISAF HQ have always empha - peaceful and secure Afghanistan for its citi - sized the professional approach and the se - zens. Citizens of the Republic of Macedonia, riousness of the Macedonian peacekeepers. are firmly convinced in the need for provid - I would like to express my gratitude to the ing assistance and support to the efforts families of ARM peacekeepers for their per - for stabilization and reconstruction of severance and support to their loved ones. Afghanistan. They have confirmed this by Sending the backbone of a family away supporting the policies, i.e. the political from their home is not easy. But, they know commitment of the executive and legisla - that the goal is a noble goal, a humane goal. tive branches for participation in interna - But we do not stop here. The Ministry of tional peacekeeping missions. The Republic Defence and the overall executive and leg - of Macedonia has invested over 55 million islative power continue to support Euros in support of the Macedonian contin - Afghanistan, but as part of the new mission 8 of the Alliance, i.e. Mission Resolute Sup - fence has decided to issue this publication. port. The global security, stability and peace The publication is a testament of our 12 in general, remain our priorities. The contin - years of participation in and experience gent from the Republic of Macedonia, al - from the ISAF Mission in Afghanistan. This though reduced in absolute numbers, publication is only a small appreciation to - remains one of the highest contributions wards the members of the Army of the Re - “per capita” in Afghanistan. In correlation public of Macedonia for everything that with the new mission, 39 Macedonian they have done in the process of establish - peacekeepers are allocated for executing ing peace and democracy in Afghanistan. tasks related to providing Force Protection Finally, the publication will be a reminder in RS HQ in Kabul, and counseling in TAAC for the future generations, for Macedonia, North, and TAAC Capitol. for the Macedonian values and the Mace - Everything that has been said so far is, in donian cult of freedom and equality. fact, the reason why the Ministry of De - Minister of Defence Zoran Jolevski meeting the members of the ARM contingent to be deployed in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan 2014 9 Methodija