Under the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP), the US has donated US$200,000 for refurbishing the storage for evidence and their processing, which will contribute to further development of the capacities of Macedonia's Ministry for Interior Affairs Department for Criminal Investigations and Forensic Expertise.

Minister of Interior Mitko Cavkov and US Ambassador to Macedonia Jess Baily said Wednesday that the donation was a result of the US-Macedonia partnership and commitment to strengthening the rule of law in the country.

The project offers a new, sophisticated concept for storage, organization and handling of collected evidence, Cavkov said. In cooperation with ICITAP, a platform is also provided for developing and implementing a systemic solution that will integrate the crime-technique departments throughout the country with the department for criminal investigation and forensic expertise, he added.

The refurbished, modern premises will help those who enforce the law, as well as prosecutors, to better serve to the citizens of Macedonia, Baily said.

"The building is completely refurbished with a US$200,000-donation into a multi-functional, modern institution for collecting, handling and processing of evidence by various methods," Baily said.