Skopje, 23 January 2024 (MIA) – The United States Ambassador to North Macedonia, Angela Aggeler, told Radio Free Europe that she won’t comment on draft laws, but welcomes and firmly supports all efforts to investigate alleged corrupt criminal activities.

“We see as responsible those who abuse public trust for their personal gain. I assume that institutional and legal reforms which increase transparency and strengthen the fight against corruption will be welcomed not only by the international community, but also by all citizens of North Macedonia,” the Ambassador told RFE.

The Ambassador’s comment comes after the announced amendments to the Law on Restrictive Measures, which would sanction Macedonian nationals and businesses ‘blacklisted’ by the United States and the United Kingdom.

Even though the amendments to the Law were adopted by the Government, it is uncertain if they will be adopted by the current parliamentary composition, since there are only two months left until the beginning of the campaign ahead of the country’s parliamentary and presidential elections.

Dozens of current and former officials, businessmen and companies have found themselves on the U.S. “blacklist”, including current Struga Mayor Ramiz Merko, who comes from DUI, and the former Deputy Prime Minister in charge of economic affairs and businessman, Kocho Angjushev.

Former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, former director of the Administration for Security and Counterintelligence Sasho Mijalkov, businessman Jordan Kamchev, and Russian businessman Sergey Samsonenko, are some of the other names on the list.

Photo: MIA Archive