Skopje, 13 May 2023 (MIA) — We are not asking the opposition to support the prime minister. We are asking the opposition to support North Macedonia's Euro-Atlantic path, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State overseeing policy towards the countries of the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar said in a Voice of America interview published Sunday.

Expressing hope that parties across the political spectrum would vote for the constitutional changes required so North Macedonia could continue the negotiations with the EU, Escobar told VOA that the country needed to move forward as quickly as possible.

The US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State also said he would like the opposition to show their commitment to the country's Euro-Atlantic integration.

"The credibility of the enlargement process depends on North Macedonia," he said, pointing out that the country had met all conditions to move forward in the process. 

"And I think that everyone, both in the European Union and in North Macedonia's political structures, should do all they can to make this happen," Escobar said.

Commenting on corruption allegations regarding the Corridors 8 and 10d construction project, he said the US had an ongoing dialogue with North Macedonia on ways of working together to reduce corruption in the region.

"Corruption is one of the biggest challenges for the entire region, not only for North Macedonia. Secretary [of State Antony] Blinken and Prime Minister [Dimitar] Kovachevski discussed it at length during their meeting," Escobar said.

Highlighting the good partnership between the US and North Macedonia, Escobar welcomed the country's reforms related to the fight against corruption. 

He also said the US had a strong interest in making sure North Macedonia and other regional countries did their part to reduce corruption and enforce the rule of law. mr/