In the US without a visa, just with a passport – the results of the Strategic Dialogue between Skopje and Washington, which was suspended for Kosovo

In the US without a visa, just with a passport – the results of the Strategic Dialogue between Skopje and Washington, which was suspended for Kosovo

Macedonian citizens will be able to travel to the United States of America (US) with just a passport, without having to apply, prepare documents, or go to visa interviews.

This is one of the issues that the Government of North Macedonia has raised with the US administration, and which would be one of the benefits of the Strategic Dialogue, which both countries launched in June 2022.

This dialogue is seen as an institutional framework for a higher level of relations between the two countries, which offers concrete measures for deeper cooperation in various fields.

Regarding visa waiver, Macedonian institutions are included in the cross-sectoral working groups for joining the Visa Waiver Program and the Global Entry Program in the US, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (MFFT) told Radio Free Europe (RFE/RL).

This ministry said that this is a long-term process within the framework of the Strategic Dialogue.

This is just one of the aspects highlighted by the former Macedonian Minister of Defense, Slavjanka Petrovska, currently an MP, who as head of defense in 2022 was part of the delegation that traveled to the US for the launch of the Strategic Dialogue.

“It is extremely important that the activities and obligations of Macedonian institutions regarding the lifting and facilitation of the visa regime with the US were prioritized at that time, which will be an additional impetus for increased cooperation and partnership,” Petrovska told Radio Free Europe, speaking about the results of the Dialogue.

The head of Macedonian diplomacy, Timco Mucunski, during his recent visit to the US, when he participated in the United Nations General Assembly, announced in an interview with TV Sitel from New York that “they do not promise that visa liberalization will happen soon”, but it is one of the topics being discussed within the framework of the Strategic Dialogue.

North Macedonia, which this year marks 30 years of bilateral relations with the United States, is the first country from the Western Balkans to launch a Strategic Dialogue with the US government. From the wider region, Slovenia and Croatia are also developing this type of dialogue with Washington.

The launch of such a dialogue has also been announced in Serbia in recent months.

Regarding Kosovo, Washington announced on September 12 the suspension of the planned Strategic Dialogue with Kosovo, due to the actions of the acting Government of Kosovo, which, as the US said, have increased tensions and instability in the country.

What is discussed in the Strategic Dialogue?

North Macedonia is now in its fourth year of Strategic Dialogue with the US, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is the coordinator of the process.

Based on the topics discussed within the Strategic Dialogue in June 2022, this ministry explained that an Activity Plan has been prepared to be implemented in the period 2023-2033. Visa abolition is one of these activities.

The MFA also emphasized that this also includes activities in the fields of defense and security, energy and environment, bilateral cooperation, good governance and the rule of law, trade and investment, as well as people-to-people ties.

Why is the Strategic Dialogue important for North Macedonia and the region?

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, the establishment of such an institutional framework for dialogue in several segments is a “major diplomatic victory”, given the importance and leading role of the US on the international stage.

“At the same time, it also represents a recognition from the US that they see in North Macedonia a reliable partner, which is not only a passive beneficiary of development assistance and political support, but also a state with which it can implement strategic decisions,” the department said.

Former Macedonian Ambassador to the US, Vasko Naumovski, assessed that the Strategic Dialogue is an advancement of the already established cooperation between the two countries, emphasizing that the country has had the support of the United States since its independence. But he said that he also sees it as an opportunity to realize one of the goals of American policy – the stabilization of the Balkans.

“Areas where cooperation can be expanded through the Strategic Dialogue include security challenges in the wider region, trade cooperation, energy, infrastructure, as well as our European integration, towards the permanent stabilization of the Balkans – a process that is part of the objectives of American foreign policy,” Naumovski told REL.

Former Defense Minister Petrovska also emphasized that the Strategic Dialogue has contributed to increasing the level of cooperation, but also to recognizing North Macedonia’s role in the region.

“North Macedonia received strong confirmation that it is an important ally for the US, but it was also recognized in the regional aspect as a state that contributes to the stability of the region and was a positive example of partnership. It is extremely important for North Macedonia that this dialogue continues with greater intensity, because the alliance with the US is a key factor for the political and economic development of the country,” Petrovska underlined.

Helping achieve NATO objectives

Petrovska emphasized that the sector she headed – defense – is an area where North Macedonia and the US have previously had excellent cooperation, and through the Dialogue “the foundations were laid for intensifying cooperation in other areas as well.”

Specifically, regarding defense, the Ministry of Labor and Foreign Trade emphasized that the Strategic Dialogue enables North Macedonia to develop its capacities to achieve NATO objectives.

The country became the 30th member of the Western military alliance in March 2020.

One of the most important resources at its disposal is the Krivollak training range, which is used for many exercises by the armies of NATO countries. Modernizing this range is one of the goals that the authorities mention in the context of the Strategic Dialogue with the US.

“Cooperation in the field of defense and security is carried out through the development of modern defense capacities, the implementation of bilateral exercises and training activities to improve adaptability, especially for the development of the Krivollak training range for the purposes of conducting complex training activities by NATO allies and partners,” the MFA said.

This institution also mentioned a series of trainings, courses, and programs for the development and improvement of security capacities, and emphasized that in November 2023, the country signed a Memorandum with the US on expert support for the development of the National Security Strategy.

Rule of law, culture, energy and trade

Regarding the results in other areas that are part of the topics in the Strategic Dialogue, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which coordinates the process, recalled that the US Government continuously provides funds for good governance and the rule of law, to increase trust in the judicial system, the responsibility of prosecutors and judges, as well as to implement judicial reforms.

“We receive significant assistance in implementing the National Anti-Corruption Strategy – out of the total assistance to North Macedonia to date, which amounts to over $1.3 billion, the US has invested half a billion dollars in the fight against corruption,” the Foreign Ministry said.

As part of the projects within the Strategic Dialogue, the strengthening of the State Commission for the Prevention of Corruption in terms of human resources, technical and software capacities, as well as the creation of an analytical center are also mentioned.

For the energy and environment segment, the Ministry did not mention any concrete projects, but emphasized that there is “an expressed commitment to increasing diversification and energy independence in support of the security of both countries.”

It is similar for trade and investment, where the Ministry mentioned the “joint effort” to expand economic and trade cooperation and the “joint commitment to exploiting trade opportunities, improving reforms, identifying and reducing obstacles to trade and investment.”

Part of the plan within the Strategic Dialogue is also culture, which envisages cooperation between museums, support for the preservation of Macedonian cultural heritage through the Embassy’s Fund for Cultural Preservation, master classes for talented musicians with professors from the US, as well as professional improvement of conservators from North Macedonia.

Three decades of diplomatic relations

All of these areas were part of the joint statement between Washington and Skopje, published by the US Department of State on June 2, 2022, when the Strategic Dialogue was launched.

The dialogue was led by the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bujar Osmani, and Karen Donfried, who was the US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs in the administration of Democrat Joe Biden.

That statement emphasized that the Dialogue is “focused on deepening the bilateral partnership,” referring to efforts for cooperation in each area separately.

The most important document signed between the two countries so far is the Declaration on Strategic Partnership and Cooperation. It was signed on 7 May 2008 in Washington by the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Milososki, and the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice. The signing of the declaration followed the Greek veto at the NATO summit in Bucharest in April 2008.

North Macedonia and the United States this year mark 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations. /REL