Congressman Smith, the dean of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation, is also the Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission and a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Congressman Smith is one of the United States’ preeminent human rights advocates.
Congressman Smith has proven time and time again that he is a friend of Macedonia and that he supports Macedonia’s goal to join NATO. Prior to the Chicago Summit, he told journalists in Skopje on his first visit to Macedonia that “Macedonia is Macedonia and will remain Macedonia. [The country] is an outstanding ally in Afghanistan and Iraq. According to our commanders, Macedonian troops perform really well and the country would be a welcomed addition to NATO’s security apparatus. We hope an invitation will be extended to Macedonia…and the country will join NATO.”
Back in January 2012, UMD commended Congressman Smith for holding a hearing on the topic of the Western Balkans and the 2012 NATO Summit. UMD President Metodija A. Koloski has called Congressman Smith’s efforts on behalf of Macedonia “tireless,” and UMD is very proud and grateful to have him as a member of the Macedonia Caucus.
The Macedonia Caucus is chaired by the long-time friend of Macedonia, Congresswoman Candice Miller (R-MI) and serves as a body to maintain and strengthen the positive relationship between the U.S. and Macedonia. In March 2012, the Macedonia Caucus led an effort putting together fifty-four members of Congress, including Congressman Smith, to send a letter to President Obama urging him to support Macedonia’s NATO membership during the NATO Summit in Chicago.
UMD is excited to work with the Macedonia Caucus members to enhance U.S.-Macedonia relations, and it encourages all those who are friends of Macedonia to contact their members of Congress to ask them to join the Congressional Caucus on Macedonia and Macedonian-Americans. Please click HERE to send your letter.
To learn more about how you can get involved, please contact UMD President Metodija A. Koloski at (202) 350-9798 or mkoloski@umdiaspora.org.
To learn more about Congressman Chris Smith, please visit http://chrissmith.house.gov/.
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Donate to support UMD’s important work for Macedonia and Macedonian issues by clicking HERE. (Canadians should click http://www.canadahelps.org and search “United Macedonian Diaspora” to donate) – All donations from Canadian and U.S. donors are tax-deductible.