SkopjeDiem Macedonia in English
If elected US President, candidate Kamala Harris has said, she will protect rights and of citizens and countries to freely express national identity, including the Macedonian identity and language, while the other candidate, Donald Trump, has promised economic cooperation and security of the Western Balkans if he wins.
Both campaigns have, for VoA Macedonian, announced support for democratic institutions and fighting corruption in the region.
“NATO and the EU are based on common democratic values, including strong, independent, and responsible institutions. Our values also protect and respect the rights of citizens and countries to freely express their respective national identity, including Macedonian identity, and to speak their national language, including Macedonian. Vice-President Harris understands how important these values are to the vital Macedonian-American community,” a Harris campaign spokesperson said.
The campaign also described anti-corruption as a key national security interest of the US. When it comes to the Trump campaign, it is critical of Biden’s foreign policy regarding the fight against corruption and EU integration of the Western Balkans.
“Instead of significant economic and growth initiatives being implemented in countries such as Greece, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, and Slovenia to support these nations in their fight against corruption and in EU integration, the Biden administration has decided on a passive approach,” Christos Marafatsos, Vice-Chair of the National Diversity Coalition (NDC) for Trump, said.
He added that Trump’s foreign policy regarding the Western Balkans would focus on trade partnerships and economic opportunities.
“The Trump-led White House will not simply push broadminded statements on democracy. It will bring true, responsible results by directly working with local leaders and people in the region,” Marafatsos underlined.
Serbia and Kosovo signed, during Trump’s presidential term an economic normalisation deal. Marafatsos said Trump would continue the policy of strategic economic deals. If Trump wins, his campaign added, he’ll take active steps to prevent foreign influences aiming to destabilise the Balkans.
