The USA is helping Macedonia on it path towards Euro-Atlantic integration, but also how to deal with the country’s political crisis, said yesterday US Ambassador Jess Baily, during the celebration of Independence Day of the United States, organized at the US Embassy in Skopje.
“We are working to help Macedonia to move towards eventual membership in NATO and the EU. This means working to resolve the political crisis in Macedonia, strengthening the rule of law and democratic institutions as stated in the Pržino Agreement . Those efforts have dominated the news, but we also know that Macedonia is much more than what is written in the headlines in the news. Macedonia is its people, its heritage, its natural beauty, from Shar Mountain to the lakes of Dojran, Ohrid, Prespa lake in Osogovo. To get to know and understand Macedonia we must raise our gaze from our daily concerns and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us. I am blessed that I can do it from here, every day”, stated Ambassador Baily.
When speaking about dealing with conflicts, he quoted Abraham Lincoln, “The best way to predict the future is to create it”. Baily said problems and challenges should be addressed in a way that future generations will look back upon our decisions proudly.
This year’s celebration, has been focused on natural beauty and resources, many attended, such as; President Gjorge Ivanov, Prime Minister Emil Dimitriev, the President of the Macedonian Parliament, Trajko Veljanoski, Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki, political leaders, Zoran Zaev, Menduh Thaci, Ali Ahmeti, the Public Prosecutor Marko Zvrlevski and Special Prosecutors Katica Janeva and Fatime Fetai, and other prominent personalities from the political scene in Macedonia and the business community.
