The United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) has sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, expressing concern over her bypassing Macedonia for the fourth time when she visits the Balkans next week.
In the framework of her farewell tour to the Balkans, Clinton is scheduled to visit Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania and Croatia.
UMD believes this is sending the wrong message to Macedonia and Macedonian citizens, urging the Secretary to reconsider her travel plans.
"On behalf of our nation's close to half a million Americans of Macedonian heritage, the United Macedonian Diaspora strongly urges you to make an official visit to Macedonia. Your visit next week would be your fourth to the region without visiting Macedonia, which in our opinion sends a negative message to Macedonian citizens. Macedonia has been a strong partner of the U.S. and a close strategic ally. Macedonia is the key to stability in Southeast Europe, and every time the U.S. has requested Macedonia's assistance, Macedonia has unconditionally delivered", reads the letter.
According to UMD, Clinton's presence would send a reassuring positive message to the Macedonian citizens that they are on the right path towards Euro-Atlantic integration despite some challenges, and that their efforts to join NATO and the EU are strongly supported by the U.S.
