North Macedonia–United States relations
North Macedonia |
United States |
---|---|
Diplomatic mission | |
Angela Aggeler |
The
History
The United States formally recognized
The United States, together with its European allies, strongly condemned the initiators of the 2001 insurgency in North Macedonia and closely supported the government and major parties' successful efforts to forge a peaceful, political solution to the crisis through the
Today, North Macedonia and the United States enjoy a cooperative relationship across a broad range of political, economic, cultural, military, and social issues. The United States supports North Macedonia's aspirations to build a democratically secure and market-oriented society, and has donated large amounts of foreign assistance for democracy and economic reforms, defense reforms, and projects to strengthen rule of law and improve education. Bilateral assistance budgeted to North Macedonia under the Support Europe Economic Development (SEED) Act totaled over $320 million from 1990 to 2004, including budget support and other assistance to help North Macedonia recover from the 2001 crisis. North Macedonia received approximately $37 million in SEED Act assistance in 2005.
A further priority of U.S. assistance is to facilitate North Macedonia's transition to a market economy and increase employment and growth levels. USAID has identified and is now assisting the five most competitive sub-sectors of North Macedonia's economy. USAID also helps local enterprises through business resource centers, improved access to
USAID is working to strengthen North Macedonia's non-governmental organization (NGO) and community networks, encourage judicial reform, in particular by modernizing court administration, and build capacity and transparency of the parliament and local governments. USAID has helped strengthen the State Election Commission's capacity to administer elections and supported domestic NGO election monitoring of the spring 2005 municipal elections. A U.S. Department of Justice Resident Legal Advisor focuses on strengthening the independence of the judiciary, efficacy of public prosecution, reform of criminal codes, and capacity to fight trafficking in persons and organized crime.
Complementing its assistance in North Macedonia's political and economic transition, USAID programs improve education and human capacity in North Macedonia through projects on the primary, secondary, and post-secondary levels. Targets include improving teaching techniques, modernizing vocational education, providing computer labs in all schools, and expanding broadband Internet service throughout the country using primary and secondary schools as a platform. Other programs address crosscutting issues, including interethnic cooperation, assistance to the Romani minority, corruption, HIV/AIDS, and trafficking.
Vasko Naumovski is the current Ambassador of North Macedonia in the United States. In 2008, the government of North Macedonia signed an executive agreement on Strategic Partnership and Mutual Cooperation. The agreement was signed by United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Antonio Milošoski.
Public opinion
According to the 2012 U.S. Global Leadership Report, 44% of Macedonians approve of U.S. leadership, with 23% disapproving and 33% uncertain.[2] In two surveys from 2021, Macedonians for the first time view the US as more influential in the country than the EU, a stance that Albanians of North Macedonia already hold.[3]
Embassy
Principal U.S. Officials include:
- Angela Aggeler
The
See also
- List of ambassadors of North Macedonia to the United States
- List of ambassadors of the United States to North Macedonia
- Macedonian Americans
- United States–Yugoslavia relations
References
This article incorporates public domain material from U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets. United States Department of State.
- ^ Makfax Agency United States of America congratulate President Ivanov on his inauguration and are looking forward to continuing of the excellent relations with Macedonia
- Gallup
- ^ Jakov Marusic, Sinisa (25 February 2022). "North Macedonia's Faith in EU Influence Plummeting, Survey Shows". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
External links
Media related to Relations of North Macedonia and the United States at Wikimedia Commons