A Berks County man’s involvement in the migrant crisis in Macedonia and the U.S. government’s response came up Wednesday during the lecture by a representative of a Macedonian group.
The issue was posed to Metodija Koloski, president of the United Macedonia Diaspora, during the World Affairs Council of Greater Reading luncheon.
Fulbright scholar Troy Spier, 24, of Ruscombmanor Township is a graduate student in linguistics at Tulane University, who was part of a program teaching English at schools outside the Macedonian capital of Skopje.
But he also volunteered at a refugee camp near the Serbian border, helping with food, blankets and shelter.
“It was unfortunate that they (the government) asked him to return,” Koloski said. “But the background I received from the State Department indicated he was getting involved in something outside his area of studies, and that is not allowed in the Fulbright program.
“I feel that here was a way Americans could have shown more leadership.”
Americans have served in Macedonia, Koloski said.
“Ever since Iraq and Afghanistan, America seems to be reluctant to get involved in places,” he said. “The problem is that America is seen as the world policeman, but it can’t possibly be the world policeman and should have support from other nations. But if the U.S. does get involved in an area, it must get involved all the way because in many places democracies can’t be built in a very short time.”
