Skopje, 15 November 2024 (MIA) - I believe the United States will remain committed and interested in North Macedonia's EU membership. If I was a Macedonian, I would feel comfortable that the United States remains a partner of the state and its citizens. I think we will see a bigger focus on the attempts to solve the challenges in the Middle East and Ukraine, and we'll see the U.S. stronger, says former Republican congressman Bill Flores on his expectations for a shift of Washington's foreign policy and its interest for the Western Balkans.

Flores told Sitel that EU accession is important not only because it will make the Union stronger, but it is important for North Macedonia's economy as well.

"I was here in 2018 as part of the Prespa process and when the country organized a referendum on the name. Many people thought that would be the last step, but the EU said there is another one. The U.S. supports North Macedonia in this process," says Flores.

Former Democratic congressman David Skaggs says it is in the United States' interest to see North Macedonia fully integrated in the European system, in both defense and economic terms.

"To us, this makes sense, but we have to be cautious regarding our role, so as not to tell other countries what to do," says Skaggs.

Both congressmen are convinced in the capability of the Parliament of North Macedonia to move forward, based on what they saw during their visit.

"We know that the Parliament has adopted a Code of Ethics but it is still not fully implemented. Based on the discussions we had today, I have the impression that the staff and the lawmakers would like to implement a system that incorporates the best practices, and we hope this enthusiasm will continue," says Flores.

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