Skopje, 21 June 2023 (MIA) – I hope the US Department of State’s decision to “blacklist” Struga Mayor Ramiz Merko due to his involvement in “significant corruption”, will help the Government of North Macedonia continue its efforts in the fight against corruption, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gabriel Escobar told the Voice of America in Albanian, in an interview alongside the US Coordinator on Global Anti-Corruption, Richard Nephew.

 

Nephew stressed that the decision has been made because the “U.S. State Secretary had reliable information suggesting that Merko was involved in significant corruption.”

 

“According to the legislation, when the state secretary reaches such a conclusion, the designation is legally binding, as was the case today,” said Nephew.

 

According to Nephew, if the state secretary has reliable information that point to the involvement in significant corruption, then visa restrictions need to be introduced, because the law “calls for action once the information is available.”

 

Nephew said he couldn’t share concrete evidence over why the Struga Mayor has been placed on the U.S. blacklist, but stressed that based on the published information, the case concerns “a misappropriation of funds and interference with judicial processes.”

 

“Considering the nature of the decisions and their legal basis, this is what we can share in the public for this case,” said Nephew.

He stressed that the decisions aim to demonstrate the US support for the rule of law and efforts to tackle corruption globally.

 

“Whenever you talk about something that includes visa restrictions or sanctions, you will always get questions over their efficiency. However, I think that we have largely succeeded in showing significant results in terms of helping civil society actors and other institutions, and that they are not alone and have the support of the international community when facing corrupt actors,” said Nephew.

 

The State Department’s Coordinator on Global Anti-Corruption added that the U.S. does not differentiate between former or current officials when introducing sanctions.

 

“Again, a part of the reason why we do these things is to help civil society actors and those who are trying to seek responsibility from the corrupt actors,” said Nephew.

 

On Tuesday, the US Department of State designated Struga Mayor Ramiz Merko as generally ineligible for entry into the United States due to his involvement in significant corruption.

"While serving as Struga’s mayor, Merko misappropriated funds and interfered with judicial and other public processes, damaging the public’s faith in North Macedonia’s democratic institutions and officials. Today’s action sends a message that the United States stands with North Macedonia to foster stability through the strengthening of democratic institutions and addressing rule of law deficiencies. This designation reaffirms the commitment of the United States to combat corruption, which harms the public interest, hampers countries’ economic prosperity, and curtails the ability of governments to respond effectively to the needs of their people," said Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller in a press statement.

 

The press statement adds that the decision “reaffirms the commitment of the United States to combat corruption, which harms the public interest, hampers countries’ economic prosperity, and curtails the ability of governments to respond effectively to the needs of their people.”

 

The Department also designated Merko’s wife, Shpresa, and three adult children, Genc, Nazmije, and Drenushe as ineligible for entry into the United States.

 

After the State Department’s statement was published, the US Ambassador Angela Aggeler wrote on Facebook that “the people of North Macedonia deserve integrity from their public officials and a system that will hold them accountable.”

 

“The United States will continue to call out anyone – regardless of position or political party – who undermines the rule of law, threatening the progress and stability of North Macedonia,” wrote Aggeler on the US Embassy’s Facebook page.

 

In an interview for MIA in May, Aggeler said it’s not secret that corruption and crime are seen as the major challenge facing the country.

“This country has made sacrifices. Since I left 10 years ago, it has made very important and very difficult sacrifices, and it has shown that it can address real issues when it is called upon to do so. I believe that there are those of goodwill in this country who are also tired of corruption. I think everybody is. I haven’t met a single Macedonian who is fine with corruption. It is my very great hope that the people will say ‘enough’ and that they will demand of their institutions that these issues are addressed in a way that it’s open and transparent, and they can hold leaders, businesspeople, others within the society accountable if they are not following the rules,” Aggeler told MIA.

 

The Alliance for Albanians and Besa welcomed the State Department’s decision on Tuesday, and called for Merko's resignation.

 

“This decision is a signal that has the potential to return hope to North Macedonia. Today, the United States has shown that no one is untouchable, and we commend ambassador Aggeler for her consistency and the warning that other designations will be made this year. Corruption must have consequences, but the designations of a persona non grata are not sufficient. Ramiz Merko should immediately resign, and DUI should distance itself from the member of their Presidency. The prosecution should launch a case against Merko in order to ensure complete responsibility over the State Department’s assertions and implement justice,” said the Alliance for Albanians.

 

Besa, on the other hand, expressed conviction that this decision is only a beginning for the unmasking of corruption and incriminated officials.

 

“We expect this list to be expanded in the coming days with officials who have misappropriated and are misappropriating local and foreign funds in the name of ‘investments’,” said Besa in their reaction to the decision.

 

For VMRO-DPMNE, the State Department’s press statement is a confirmation of what the party has been saying for a long time, that “DUI is a criminal structure”.

 

“Ramiz Merko’s blacklisting by the US is institutional confirmation of all suspicions and affairs revealed by VMRO-DPMNE about DUI’s officials,” said opposition MP Mirche Adzioski on Wednesday.

 

Merko’s party, DUI, said they are “shocked by the State Department’s decision, but they will respect it and analyze it in the coming days.” Sources from within DUI noted that in the coming days, the party’s leader, Ali Ahmeti, is expected to meet with representatives of the US Embassy, after which he will decide whether he will ask Merko to resign.

Minister of Education and Science and high DUI official, Jeton Shaqiri, said on Wednesday that his party has always been in favor of vetting all officials.

 

“As a political party, DUI has always been in favor of vetting and DUI asks that all officials at the central and local level are vetted,” said Shaqiri.

 

Previously, in 2022, the United States placed former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and former secret police chief Sasho Mijalkov on their “blacklist” due to their involvement in “significant corruption.”