Members of the United States (U.S.) Congress have sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken asking the U.S.administration for stronger engagement in the Western Balkans.
Nine members of Congress are urging the U.S. Secretary of State that the administration led by President Biden in the Western Balkans promote stronger integration of this area within Western Europe.
The letter was signed by Congressmen Dina Titus, Brad Schneider, William Keating, Adriano Espaillat, Jim Costa, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Juan Vargas, Ritchie Torres, and David E. Price.
“Due to the unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine, it is now more important than ever for the U.S. to strengthen its engagement and involvement in the region. Full integration of the Western Balkans into the transatlantic community must be a priority for the U.S. when we look to suppress the spread and influence of autocratic regimes including Russia and China,” it is stated in the letter.
They point out that Russia and China are promoting autocratic and anti-democratic narratives throughout the Western Balkans.
“For example, in mid-January, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) expressed concern that rhetoric in Serbia and BiH glorifying convicted war crimes could resume violence. Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik is threatening to withdraw the Republika Srpska (RS) entity from state institutions and poses a major threat to the Dayton Peace Agreement and BiH as a state,” members of Congress said.
Because of all this, members of Congress stressed that the U.S.must send a strong signal to the Western Balkans and the rest of the world that it is ready to uphold democratic values through several projects such as increased investment and regional integration, encouraging the accession to the European Union (EU), and promoting dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia.
The Bosnian Serb leader continues with secessionist policies that are inconsistent with the Dayton Peace Agreement and that raise tensions between Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs and could potentially culminate in violence that will be difficult to prevent.The U.S. has taken action against Milorad Dodik by imposing sanctions. But, the international community, especially the U.S., must seek a stronger solution that respects Dayton and is in the political, economic, and social interests of the citizens of BiH,” it was said in the letter.
