The U.S. government will finance the participation of 20 Serbian soldiers in the MEDCEUR 2011 military and medical exercise in FYRMacedonia from June 516, the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade announced on June 14.

MEDCEUR is a regional and multilateral military and medical exercise for states from central and eastern Europe and it is being held for the 11th time this year.

The exercise will include Bosnia Herzegovina, Montenegro, FYRMacedonia, Norway, the U.S. and Slovenia, a statement from the U.S. Embassy said.

The exercise is being held under the auspices of the NATO Partnership for Peace Program and the joint forces' chief of staff. The exercise will offer opportunities for handson experience in international missions, the U.S. Embassy said in a statement.

The exercise is devoted to the exchange of medical knowhow and techniques between military medical professionals to promote interoperability and encourage joint participation in future international missions, the Embassy said.

It added that this was the largest military medical exercise of this kind in which the Serbian Armed Forces would play a significant role.

Serbia is considered a highly qualified partner in peacekeeping operations due to its background in U.N. military and medical missions in Africa.