REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA MINISTRY OF DEFENSE

REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA MINISTRY OF DEFENSE ARM GENERAL HEADQUARTERS 2ND ARMY CORPS Str.dov.No. 30-182 / 21-1065 August 8, 2001

Submitted Auxiliary Combat Report,

TO ARM General Headquarters Task Force

1. Pursuant to the Order of Command 2.AK str.dov. No. 30-182 / 21-973 of July 27, 2001, and amended by Order of command 2.AK str.dov.No. 30-182 / 21-1007 of July 31, 2001, in connection with the execution of the planned replacement of units involved in the composition of OTG-1, on August 8, 2001, transporting 2.pch-KOG Prilep/2.map from the barracks of Prilep through Veles - Skopje for Tetovo, departing at 07:00 hours. Unit 2.pch-KOG Prilep/2.map was mobilized on July 25, 2001.

2. The transport of people was performed with two buses from JSP “Pelagonia Trans” from Prilep, 1 m/v van, 1 m/v “Mercedes” and 1 m/v Hermelin from 2.bVP.

3. Around 09:25 hours, after the arrival of the column with m/v in Grupchin Region (Markov Dzhid) the same was ambushed by Albanian terrorists with hand grenade launchers, hand-held rocket launchers and automatic-firearm weapons.

4. During the attack:

a) The m/v Hermelin was hit in the rear left wheel but it continued to move towards Tetovo and arrived at the barracks.

b) The two buses were hit by gunfire wounding the following v/o: -PETRESKI Stanoia RUBINCHO, born in 1973 in Prilep (wounded in the back); -RISTESKI Kiril DIMCHE, born in 1971 in Prilep (wounded in the left forearm). The injured were taken to the garrison clinic in Tetovo. The buses continued to move towards Tetovo and arrived at the barracks.

c) The m/v “Mercedes” was hit with several mini-propelled grenades when it came within striking distance and the following were fatally shot:

1. Reservist Captain NAUMOSKI Giore NANE, born on January 29, 1953, married, father of two children, lived on the street “Kocho Ratsin” No. 5 in Prilep.

2. Reservist Lieutenant KITANOVSKI Blagoja SASHO, born on November 11, 1961, married, father of two children, lived on the street “Lenin” number 168 in Prilep.

3. V/o SEKULOVSKI Spase BRANKO, driver of m/v, born on November 26, 1958, lived on the street “Kei 4th of July” number 24-A in Prilep. The remaining soldiers rushed out of the body of the m/v, took up combat positions and returned fire on the Albanian terrorists.

The following v/o died fighting:

4. V/o MIHOSKI Atanas GORAN, born on December 27, 1972 lived on the street “Beogradska” number 69-B in Prilep.

5. V/o DESPOTOSKI Blagoja MARKO, born on September 28, 1973, lived in the village Novoselani-Prilep.

The above mentioned persons’ identification was confirmed by the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the Medical Faculty.

Identification for the remaining persons is pending. It is assumed that the following people were killed:

6. V/o SHABANOSKI Alia ERDOVAN, born on October 24, 1980, lived on the street “Dabnichki zavoi” number 34 in Prilep.

7. V/o STOJKOVSKI Giorgia MARJANCHO, born on April 20, 1968, lived on the street “Osogovska” number 52 in Prilep.

8. V/o GRUJOSKI Aleksandar LIUBE, born on November 3, 1969, had been living in the village Pashino Ruvtsi-Prilep.

9. V/o VELIANOVSKI Milorad DARKO, born on March 17, 1974, had been living in the village Ropotovo-Prilep.

10. V/o SEKULOSKI Vele PETSO, born September 25, 1970, lived in the village Pole-Prilep.

11. V/o RUSHITOSKI Kadri VEBI, born September 23, 1974, lived on the street “Vranjska” number 6 in Prilep.

So far ten bodies of the dead members of the unit were found and one member is now missing; he is neither among the dead nor in the unit barracks in Tetovo. After completion of the identification, we will send you another report with the names of the remaining dead people.

d) The m/v van in which column commander Major Rashniki Ener was riding with two other officers, drove back about 200 metres from where they managed the skirmish.

5. We were notified about the Albanian terrorist attack on the column by Captain Chesko Eshef at 09:40 hours. The Captain was in the m/v - van. Immediately after that OG of ARM General Headquarters was informed and intervention of the Special Forces, helicopters and medical m/v was requested.

6. Around 10:30 hours the scene was secured by a special unit of the Army and the Army helicopters searched the ground at the scene.

7. The Public Prosecutor, an investigating judge from Court-1 -Skopje, BVP crime- technicians from Skopje and a medical team from CVZU - Skopje, arrived at the scene to assist and carry out inspections.

8. The commander of 2.AK Command engaged Colonel Zhivko Naidovski and Lieutenant Colonel Pavle Stavrevski to arrange the transfer of the bodies of the dead soldiers to the Institute of Forensic Medicine. Following the autopsy, using a funeral m/v vehicle from JP “Butel”, the bodies of the dead will be transported from Skopje to the barracks in Prilep, and then engaging an AVL from 2.mal they will be transported from the barracks in Prilep to their places of residence.

9. An order was issued from 2.AK Command to organize funerals for the deceased military personnel in accordance with regulations and obligations as per all the Military Service Rule from point 595 to point 604.

10. A group of residents in Prilep has revolted because of this incident and because many of the dead were from Prilep. They have entered the barracks and have broken into one of the warehouses and took 55 AP 7.62 mm weapons and 500 rounds of ammunition. Near the warehouse where they took the weapons, the same group of residents has taken the v/o that was demobilized on August 7, 2001 when the arms and ammunition was cleared. To overcome the situation, in addition to engaging the garrison, command has also engaged two units from 2.BVP and the police from UVR Prilep. In time the arms and ammunition were surrendered.

11. We will provide you with further details after we complete the identification of the deceased members of the unit and after we deliver the arms and ammunition.