Army Issues Notice Ahead of 34th Anniversary: Artillery Fire Will Be Heard in Skopje, Citizens Should Not Be Alarmed

As part of the observance of Army Day, the artillery battalion unit will conduct a ceremonial artillery salute tonight at 19:00 at the “Ilinden” barracks in Skopje. A total of 10 volleys will be fired from 6 artillery pieces, preceded at 18:00 by a test firing consisting of one volley of 6 rounds.

The Army’s 34th anniversary will also be celebrated at the “Jane Sandanski” barracks in Shtip, where a parade by the 2nd Infantry Battalion, together with other Army units, is planned.

According to the General Staff’s announcement, the ceremony will be attended by representatives of the Army’s senior command, the mayors of municipalities within the 2nd Infantry Battalion’s area of responsibility, heads and directors of institutions and public enterprises in Shtip, as well as representatives of religious communities.

August 18 was designated Army Day because the “Mirče Acev” Battalion, regarded as the first organized military formation, was established on Mount Slavej on August 18, 1943.

The establishment of the modern Macedonian Army began in 1992. At that time, President Kiro Gligorov and the JNA leadership signed an agreement providing for the withdrawal of the federal army from the territory of the Republic of Macedonia.

Today, the Army of North Macedonia is part of the largest collective security system, after the Republic of North Macedonia was admitted to NATO in March 2020 as its 30th full member.