The US Ambassador to the country, Kate Burns, today addressing the signing of the grant agreement between Northern Macedonia and the United States, assessed that the country has made significant progress since the signing of the Prespa Agreement and NATO accession, but said that this step must be maintained.

- The period that follows will be crucial for the future of Northern Macedonia as a prosperous ally that contributes to stability in the region. After the enumeration of the historic Prespa Agreement in 2018, as well as the entry into NATO and the green light for accession negotiations with the EU in 2020, Northern Macedonia has made an evident step forward. But this step must be maintained and the chance must be used even in times of great challenge. We know that in the future there may be challenges, such as corruption, nepotism, and even dysfunctional institutions, which hinder the path of Northern Macedonia towards the set goals, said Burns in his address.

Government leaders, Burns said, must face the frequent mismatch between high public expectations for EU membership and the real weight of the reforms that need to be implemented as a precondition for joining the Union.