Macedonia, Bulgaria vow to enhance military-technical cooperation

Macedonian Army (ARM) chief of staff and visiting Bulgarian counterpart on Tuesday pledged to boost military-technical cooperation, especially in training of technical personnel over maintenance of tanks and missile systems.

The remarks were made when Bulgarian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Rumen Nikolov paid an official visit to Macedonia and held meeting with Macedonian Army Chief of Staff Goranco Koteski, according to Macedonian Information Agency.

Nikolov highlighted Bulgaria's support to ARM's efforts towards full-fledged NATO membership, while Koteski said ARM and the Macedonian Defense Ministry would undertake all measures and activities towards Macedonian NATO accession.

Army cooperation will be enhanced by further schooling of ARM officers in Bulgarian military academies, as well as participation of Bulgarian cadets at the summer camp organized by the Skopje-based military academy, among other efforts.

Both sides also referred to exchange of training capacities.

Joining the European Union as well as the NATO is two major aspirations of Macedonia but the progress has been blocked by a two-decade-long name dispute with Greece.

Greece is opposed to the use of the name of Macedonia by its northern neighbor, saying it implies territorial claims to north Greek province of the same name.