U.S. Ambassador Byrnes: North Macedonia’s path is positive, promising one

Jerusalem, 2 January, 2020 (TPS) -- By: MIA

In a first holiday video message, U.S. Ambassador to North Macedonia Kate Marie Byrnes says the country had ended the year poised to realize the long-held aspiration to join NATO, marking continued deepening of bilateral partnership with the U.S. and having bright prospects of further regional integration. The economy, she adds, is strengthening and the country continues to show its readiness to open accession talks with the EU. However, Byrnes notes, significant challenges remain and there’s much work to be done, but the country’s path is a positive and promising one.

“Your country ended the year seating at the table with its future allies in London, poised early in 2020 to finally realize the long-held aspiration to join the Alliance,” Ambassador Byrnes says.

She adds that 2019 had also marked a continued deepening of bilateral partnership with the U.S., mentioning that North Macedonia hosted in June the largest military exercise in its history, Decisive Strike, as well as U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s visit to Ohrid where he had the chance to express support and appreciation to North Macedonia.

“You are discussing new opportunities with your neighbours. Your economy is strengthening and growing, and the prospects of further regional integration are bright. North Macedonia continues to show its readiness to open accession talks with the EU, implementing reforms that are critical in their own right to help the country prosper and grow,” Byrnes points out.

According to the U.S. Ambassador, North Macedonia’s position as a regional leader in the World Bank’s annual rankings of the ease of doing business encourages foreign investors. Byrnes underlines that significant challenges remain and there’s still much work to be done, but the country’s path is a positive and promising one.