Skopje, 21 February 2024 (MIA) – It is critically important to get out and to vote on May 8, because it is important that the citizens get the candidates that they believe will bring them to the brightest future possible for this country, the United States Ambassador to North Macedonia, Angela Aggeler, told Kanal 5 TV in an interview Wednesday.

“The challenges that face North Macedonia today are far more complex than just pro this or pro that. It’s not a single choice, there are many, many issues that I believe the citizens of this country really demand to hear solutions for and then to see action. So, the interesting part of this is, and we are having elections in the United States as well this year, that there will always be candidates who work to create a more chaotic environment, who don’t address the real issues. But what is very important, first for all, fundamentally for voters, whether in North Macedonia or the United States, is to educate themselves. Be aware of what the different views of the parties are, and to think them through, to be aware of the misinformation and fake news, and then to look at the choices that are before them and to really require of the candidates a vision for the future of this country,” said Aggeler in the interview.

However, according to the Ambassador, what is very important for the voters, whether in North Macedonia or the United States, is to educate themselves, "to be aware of what the different views of the parties are, and to think them through, to be aware of the misinformation and fake news, and then to look at the choices that are before them and to really require of the candidates a vision for the future of the country".

“Because, I truly believe that North Macedonia is at a pivotal point and that the elections that are coming up, the activities, the progress on reforms that takes place in the next year and few years are going to be crucial to the future of this country. This is a country that has so many resources, first and foremost its young people, its citizens, they are the greatest resource of this country. But also natural and culture resources that they have to call upon. And it is important then to remember that, first of all, North Macedonia is in Europe. This is a European country, and it belongs rightfully within Europe. So, moving towards a complete integration with the Euro-Atlantic structure is critically important. So, again, what is very important is not only for the citizens to educate themselves, but perhaps even more importantly is after having done so, they have to vote. People need to get out and vote,” said Ambassador Aggeler.

The Ambassador underscored the importance of voting at the coming elections.

“It’s sad because I’ve heard a number of people who have said I am sick of politics, I am sick of listening to politicians, so I am just not going to participate. But it is crucially important in a democracy, that we, as citizens, take that very seriously and that we demand from our candidates their vision for our future, that we look at what our goals for our families, for our communities, for this country are and then, critically important, is on May 8, to get out and to vote. Because it is important that they get the candidates that they believe will bring them to the brightest future possible for this country,” underlined the U.S. Ambassador.

Photo: Printscreen/Kanal 5