Today, October 16, 2006, The Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia brought a decision for sending a unit of the ARM – medical team for participation in an EU peace operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina EUFOR-ALTEA.

The Minister of Defence, Lazar Elenovski, explaining the decision stated that “The aim of sending the medical team is in the emphasized lack i.e. deficit of executing medical services in “Butmir” camp in last several months. Regarding our contribution both to the mission and to the ALTEA mission among other things and mainly as a state, regarding our strategic definition for participating in peace operation, The Ministry of Defence, as well as the Government, proposes sending of a medical team including two doctors, three medical technicians, two hospital attendants and two ambulance drivers for executing services of the so called role one, meaning giving first aid and primary health protection. Regarding that the previous medical team in Butmir which provided services to 1500 soldiers in that camp make 20%-25% from the whole EU mission. The team from Slovenia withdrew several months ago. It is obvious that there is an emphasized deficit of giving medical help and primary health protection, and in that direction, following prevailing respect and the position of the Republic of Macedonia to participate in such operations, regarding that the army i.e. particularly the military hospital has declared available personnel for participation in such missions, we gave our stance, at first, that we should participate, and it met with an extraordinary example in the commanding structures, such as in EU, and you know that the commander in chief of the EU – ALTEA mission is actually a deputy of the commander of the South Wing of NATO, commander John Reith”.