US urges Macedonia determination in fight against corruption

The Ambassador of the United States to Skopje, Jess Baily, has asked the new government, but also other factors -- greater determination to fight more efficiently against corruption.

Macedonia is in an important twist. The country is making efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and return to the path towards NATO and EU membership. But, notes widespread corruption and weak rule of law are hampering these efforts”, Ambassador Baily has declared, criticising a move by members of the State Election Commission, who at a closed-door opinion session, had decided to increase their salaries to the level of nine average salaries in Macedonia.

The American ambassador has also stressed the need to resolve the name issue.

“The US and NATO are trying as soon as possible to membership Macedonia in the latter. I think the road to NATO has two keys, one is keeping the state in charge of the Euro-Atlantic organisation, and the second agrees with Greece on the name issue. We see improvement in that direction”, Baily said.

The American ambassador made these comments during a visit to the Faculty of Security, where he also talked about security aspects and, in particular, about a first three - day action in a Tetovo neighbourhood where one of the largest quantities of synthetic drugs had been discovered in Europe. US agents were involved in this action. (REL)