Escobar: United States a strong partner supporting North Macedonia for quick EU accession
Washington, 5 August 2022 (MIA) – The United States will support North Macedonia and Albania in their reform efforts for the European integration process, which they have started, to move quickly, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, Gabriel Escobar, said Friday, MIA’s Washington correspondent reports.
Speaking at Friday’s press briefing on the situation in the Western Balkans, Escobar told reporters that North Macedonia is a great bilateral partner and NATO ally.
He reiterated the message from the Strategic Dialogue, which the United States and North Macedonia held in Washington in June.
“Our position is, our experience with North Macedonia has been that it is a great partner, a loyal friend and a strong contributor to the transatlantic community. North Macedonia earned the right to move forward in their process toward Europe. They made tough reforms, they continue to make tough reforms,” said Escobar.
He pointed out that for the United States, the question of North Macedonia’s language and cultural identity is not a question, urging the country to continue constructive dialogue with its neighbors and to move as quickly as it possibly can in the accession process.
“We will be a strong partner encouraging North Macedonia and supporting North Macedonia in that process,” Escobar said.
Commenting at the briefing on the historical, cultural and economic affiliation of Macedonians, he used the adjective “North Macedonians”.
“North Macedonians are Europeans, they’re historically Europeans, they’re culturally Europeans, and economically North Macedonia is well within Europe and will be an important contributor to everything from transportation to IT, to energy,” said Escobar.
