Skopje, 20 July 2023 (MIA) - It's not up to the U.S. Embassy to tell any institutions what they should do as a followup, but we were able to find sufficient evidence, to find these individuals to be responsible, to hold these individuals accountable, and we were able to do that and provide that information, gathered here in this country. This isn't based on information we gathered in Washington D.C. The information is available, and how and when institutions here, and if, they choose to follow up rests with authorities here, and I hope everyone understands that these people hurt the citizens of this country, corrupt activities hurt the people of North Macedonia, U.S. Ambassador Angela Aggeler told reporters at Thursday's press conference at the U.S. Embassy. 

Aggeler was asked whether she was satisfied with the response of the political parties and authorities after Struga Mayor Ramiz Merko was added to the U.S. blacklist, because he has frozen his activities in DUI but is still the Mayor of Struga, and whether the people in the country take this measure seriously. 

Aggeler pointed out in terms of the designations, that to the U.S. they are hundered percent not personal and not political, but they are required by law. 

"What the individuals here in this country do in reaction to that is completely up to them, and I believe that the media and the public in this country have a role in that as well. We are not going to come to North Macedonia and arrest anybody or start a legal case against them, but it is interesting to see which follow-up actions might take place," said Aggeler. 

As regards the U.S. sanctions team, she noted that the team visited late last year, and they visit regularly, but the main bulk of the information they gather are through the justice team at the Embassy and through partners, working very closely with investigative organizations in the country, with various members of the judiciary as well, so it's very much an interactive process, and it's a lengthy process, but they come back regularly and will be back at some point next year.  

Last month, the U.S. Department of State designated Struga Mayor Ramiz Merko as generally ineligible for entry into the United States due to his involvement in significant corruption.

"While serving as Struga’s mayor, Merko misappropriated funds and interfered with judicial and other public processes, damaging the public’s faith in North Macedonia’s democratic institutions and officials. Today’s action sends a message that the United States stands with North Macedonia to foster stability through the strengthening of democratic institutions and addressing rule of law deficiencies," said Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller in the press statement.

Last year, the U.S. "blacklisted" former prime minister Nikola Gruevski and former secret police chief Sasho Mijalkov as a result of involvement in significant corruption. "Their actions undermined the rule of law, democratic institutions, and public processes in both countries and eroded the public’s faith in their governments," the Department of State said in a press release. 

Immediate family members of Gruevski and Mijalkov were also barred from entering the United States. Previously, Ljube Boshkovski, Menduh Thaci, Xhevat Ademi, Gafur Adili, Nuri Bexheti, Nevzat Halili, Xhavit Hasani, Kastriot Haxhirexha, Xhemail Hiseni, Daut Rexhepi, and Xhezair Shaqiri were also added to the U.S. "black list". 

Photo: MIA archive