Skopje, 21 June 2023 (MIA) - In response to a reporter's question over Tuesday's designation of Struga Mayor Ramiz Merko as ineligible for entry into the United States, Minister of Education and Science and top official of the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), Jeton Shaqiri, said that DUI is a political party which has always been in favor of vetting all officials. 

"This question is not within the sphere of education. DUI is a political party which has always been in favor of vetting, and DUI calls for vetting of all officials coming from the central and local levels," Shaqiri said ahead of a debate on the promotion of Analysis: Political Education in North Macedonia, organized by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) and the Presidential Center for Political Education. 

Shaqiri noted that the party will come out with an official position, telling the journalist to contact the party regarding questions on political issues.  

The U.S. Department of State designated on Tuesday 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.

Photo: MIA archive