United States have donated $850000 of military equipment to armed forces of Macedonia.

The ceremony was attended by Defence Minister Zoran Jolevski, ARM Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Gorancho Koteski, Deputy US Ambassador to the Republic of Macedonia Bart Putney, Deputy Defence Minister Arben Labenishta, State Secretary in the Defence Ministry Sasho Stefanoski, ARM generals, representatives from the US Embassy in the Republic of Macedonia and other dignitaries.

Minister Jolevski in his speech said that the donation is part of a broad and comprehensive cooperation in the spirit of the strategic partnership between the Republic of Macedonia and the United States, which includes variety of activities ranging from strategic analyses and assessments, expert assistance, education, training, assistance in terms of military equipment to joint participation in peacekeeping operations.

Deputy US Ambassador Putney said that the donation is an example and proof of the excellent cooperation and coordination between the MOD and ARM with the US Embassy in the area of defence, pointing out that the five members of the Army in the role of trainers are already in the US attending a training for successful implementation of the donated equipment.

Within the ceremony for receiving the donation, members of the Military Police Battalion demonstrated exercises with sequences of military professional training, as well as demonstration and application of the donated equipment.