B. Macedonia-Albania: The US threatens sanctions against corrupt actors in the two countries

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The US has so far imposed sanctions on two former prime ministers of North Macedonia and Albania, Nikola Gruevski and Sali Berisha, holding them responsible for a series of “serious corruption cases in their countries”.

The US ambassadors in Skopje and Tirana expressed strong concern about corruption in North Macedonia and Albania and hinted that the United States would impose sanctions on corrupt actors in both countries, past and present.

The US ambassador in Skopje, Angela Angeller, announced that the United States has sent a team of experts to North Macedonia to track down corrupt North Macedonian actors.

“A Sanctions Team from Washington is here to more aggressively investigate past and present corrupt actors and consider all possible responses. The judicial sector of North Macedonia needs more investigations, prosecutions, to show that no one is above the law,” said the US ambassador in Skopje.

“As I travel the country and talk to ordinary people, they always talk about corruption, when they have to visit a doctor, when they work, when their child has to enroll in a school. “Frankly, corruption has led to what I believe is a real disaster for this country, in that a large number of young people do not want to stay in North Macedonia,” Angela Angeler noted.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, is expected in Skopje on Monday where he will hold meetings with North Macedonia’s political leadership. As Skopje media reports, one of the main topics of the meetings that Gabriel Escobar will have in Skopje will be the fight against corruption.

U.S. Ambassador to Tirana Yuri Kim sent a clear message that the United States will continue to step up efforts to combat corruption and hold corrupt actors accountable in Albania.

“The United States continues to step up its efforts to fight corruption and hold corrupt actors accountable. Why; Because we want to see Albania – our friend and ally in NATO – become stronger and richer. Corruption undermines the foundations of the country’s national security, limits and distorts investment and undermines democracy,” added the US ambassador to Tirana.

The US has so far imposed sanctions on two former prime ministers of North Macedonia and Albania, Nikola Gruevski and Sali Berisha, holding them responsible for a series of “serious corruption cases in their countries” that “undermine the functioning of the rule of law and undermine peace and stability in the Western Balkans region”.

RES-EMP

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