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Ambassador Aggeler: USA disappointed with the judiciary in North Macedonia

2023-07-08 17:13:22, Kosova & Bota CNA

The US ambassador to North Macedonia, Angela Aggeler, has expressed her despair about the situation in the field of justice, which is among the most criticized due to the presence of corruption, political influences, lack of efficiency and professionalism.

Ambassador Aggeler has said that despite the dedication and great financial assistance of the American government in recent decades for the establishment of a functional and independent judicial system, the results are lacking.

"Unfortunately, our investment in judicial progress did not yield the expected result," Aggeler said.

"When it comes to progress in the judiciary, we are disappointed. Over the past thirty years, we have invested half a billion dollars in rule of law and good governance programs, but we are not seeing the improvements and reforms that we expected from such a large investment," said American Ambassador Angela Ageler, in an interview. for Kapital newspaper.

She has expressed her concern over the presence of corruption not only in the judiciary but also in other areas

"Systematic corruption throughout the country in all sectors is harming the people of North Macedonia. You all deserve a society, a judiciary, a government whose actions are transparent and serve you - the citizens. It is a cornerstone of a fair and functioning democracy. This is what the government should focus on, regardless of which party is in power", said Aggeler.

According to her, "the judiciary should be an independent, fully self-financed and non-political sphere of the government. Political leaders should want this and you citizens should ask for it".

On June 20, the United States of America placed the mayor of the Municipality of Struga, Ramiz Merko, on the list of persons who are prohibited from entering the USA, due to his involvement in significant corruption.

"Merko squandered funds and interfered in judicial and other public processes, damaging the public's trust in the democratic institutions and officials of North Macedonia," the announcement of the US State Department said.

Criticism of the judiciary and political parties for interfering in the work of the judiciary has also been directed at the European Union.

Ambassador David Geer has announced the arrival in Skopje of a mission to evaluate the work of the Judicial Council, the highest judicial body in North Macedonia, which selects and monitors the work of judges.

However, the Council has been the target of criticism for the election of party cadres in leadership positions in the justice bodies, but also for not acting in more cases related to the obsolescence or non-proceeding of cases related to high state officials. REL