On the eve of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Army of Republic of Macedonia, President Ivanov adopted a decree to decorate the Vermont National Guard, United States, with the Order of Military Merits, for outstanding contribution to the successful maintenance and advancement of the relations and cooperation between the armed forces of the United States and the armed forces of the Republic of Macedonia and their joint participation in international peacekeeping missions.

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia, the President of the Republic of Macedonia adopted three decrees to decorate with the Order of Military Merits:

1. The Special Operations Regiment of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia, for outstanding contribution to the strengthening and development of defence capability of the Republic of Macedonia in the preservation of its independence, safety and territorial integrity, as well as for the successful presentation and affirmation of the Army of Republic of Macedonia in international peacekeeping missions.

2. Lieutenant General Mitre Arsovski, for outstanding contribution to the achievement of independence, autonomy, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Macedonia and strengthening its defence capability, serving as the first Chief of Staff of the Army of Republic of Macedonia.

3. The Military Academy of the Republic of Turkey, for the results achieved in the area of military cooperation, in particular through the education provided for the members of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia, and for the outstanding contribution to the development of friendly relations between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Turkey.