Skopje, 18 May 2023 (MIA) – U.S. Ambassador to North Macedonia, Angela P. Aggeler, is confident that the process in which Bechtel was involved has been fully transparent and fully above board because that is how they operate, otherwise they wouldn’t have projects all over the world and here in the Western Balkans. 

In an interview with MIA, Aggeler expressed disappointment that those in the opposition are criticizing the project without having all the facts and information, noting that they are simply doing it to try and make political points. 

As regards divergence in terms of the contract with Bechtel and Enka, where the authorities see it as a historical agreement and the opposition as the plunder of the century, as well as the Ambassador attending the event on the project which the public saw as her possible involvement, Aggeler pointed out that in the Embassy they do everything they can to help promote American investment in the country. Aggeler stressed that it is not only good for the American investors and the American companies, but it’s very good for the citizens of the country. 

"I find it very disappointing that those in the opposition, without frankly all the facts, are criticizing something about which they have no information. They are simply doing it to be against the government. That’s what an opposition does, but at the same time, I am completely confident that the process in which Bechtel was involved has been fully transparent and fully above board because that is how they operate. They wouldn’t have projects all over the world and a number here in the Western Balkans if they weren’t a reliable company. And people of this country will be very happy to have Corridor VIII and Xd when it’s completed. The negotiation is still being resolved, but I think it’s unfortunate that there are those who would stand in the way simply to try and make political points," Aggeler told MIA. 

In the interview, the U.S. Ambassador also talks about the content of the letter sent to the judicial and executive authorities, about Macedonian-Bulgarian relations, the U.S. blacklist, Prime Minister Kovachevski's visit to Washington, about the media in the country, etc. 

The interview with the U.S. Ambassador, Angela P. Aggeler, will be published soon in full along with video material.