SKOPJE, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- North Macedonia celebrated on Thursday the country's 30th anniversary of the Army Day with a ceremony and military parade.
President of the North Macedonia and the Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces Stevo Pendarovski, Defense Minister Slavjanka Petrovska and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Lieutenant General Vasko Gjurchinovski were present at the ceremony held in the capital city of Skopje.
Pendarovski said the country needs to continue investing in defense, adding that no later than 2024, North Macedonia will set aside at least 2 percent of the gross national product for the defense sector.
On Thursday, Pendarovski gave the Order of Military Merit award to the First Defense Minister Trajan Gocevski for his contribution to the formation of the army.
During the ceremony, members of the army forces held a military parade where new armored vehicles and equipment were displayed.
North Macedonia joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in March 2020, becoming its 30th member. ■
