Ambassador Baily: EU, NATO accession support to be converted into political will

The United States and Europe have helped Macedonia in getting out of a deep political crisis, said U.S. Ambassador Jess Baily at a conference of Committees for European Affairs/Integration of countries within the Stabilization and Association Process of South-East Europe (COSAP) in Skopje on Monday.

The ambassador believes that the successful completion of reforms in Macedonia requires the transformation of the 75-percent support for EU and NATO accession into political will.

According to him, the rule of law is one of the biggest challenges for the country, with states often becoming vulnerable to corruption and crime due to lack of it.

“Citizens require accountability, transparency and information from institutions. This means that citizens have to refuse turning the other way when facing violation of laws and corruption, but also that things should not be accepted as they are especially when facing nepotism,” said Baily.

He said courts in Macedonia should take into account the issue of transparency, because important court cases are very often shrouded by a veil of mystery and it is no wonder that citizens have no trust in them.