Skopje, 17 January 2024 (MIA) — The US blacklist including politicians sends a message smart politicians should understand, especially now ahead of the elections, according to US foreign policy lecturer and analyst at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies Edward P. Joseph.

Being blacklisted by the US Department of State is an important signal and anyone involved in corrupt acts should be designated, Joseph told CivilMedia in response to a question whether the recent corruption-related designation of a businessman connected to political structures meant that former or current politicians would be designated next.

For a former high-ranking government official, a deputy prime minister, to be on that list, meant corruption was rife not only within the business community, Joseph said.

"These are very important former officials," Joseph told CivilMedia, adding that there was hardly any higher post than that of a deputy PM.

"Former prime minister Nikola Gruevski was put on this list last year by the United States over 'significant corruption'. This was the term the US used," Joseph said, adding that this was "a message smart politicians should understand" ahead of the upcoming elections.

In the interview, the US foreign policy expert also commented on the proposed amendments to the Criminal Code.

According to him, the wisest thing the SDSM-led government should do is "withdraw the amendments to the Criminal Code" from Parliament.

"That's what they should do," Joseph said, pointing out that he had written about the matter in October, in an article published in the SAIS Review of International Affairs.

In the article, Joseph wrote: "Across the spectrum, citizens are reeling from a series of high–profile allegations of malfeasance. The coup de grace came in September when Parliament selectively reduced sentences under the criminal code, effectively 'decriminalizing the entire suite of high crimes committed by public officials in the last two decades,' causing 'irreparable consequences in… the fight against organized crime, corruption and… chronic impunity of high officials.'

"Allegedly designed as a package deal to amnesty the exiled former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski—so as to lure his opposition party into supporting the amendments [which introduce the Bulgarian ethnic community into the Constitution]—the ploy discredits them and the wider bid to join the EU. The European Commission and other watchdogs quickly called out the abuse of the European flag procedure that party schemers employed to rush the dubious legislation through Parliament. Amnesty for Gruevski would contravene one of 'the U.S. Embassy’s top priorities and a key White House priority for the Western Balkans,' given that the State Department last year sanctioned the autocrat for involvement in significant corruption."

In the CivilMedia interview, the US foreign policy expert said the best political move to attract citizens would be for the government to say, "We made a mistake."

After admitting the mistake, Joseph said, government officials should say they would correct it by withdrawing the amendments to the Criminal Code. mr/