Asked what can be done to tackle widespread corruption in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), new State Department deputyfor the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar told Voice of America (VOA) that sanctions will be used “very aggressively”.
Escobar, State Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs and State Department Representative for the Western Balkans, took office in early September from Matthew Palmer, who has been appointed United Staes (U.S.) Deputy for Electoral Reform in BiH.
VOA: Corruption is widespread in BiH. What can be done to move the problem of corruption from the deadlock?
Escobar: Last year, the president (Biden) announced a new set of tools for sanctions, especially against corruption, not necessarily against criminal activities, but corruption. We plan to use these mechanisms very aggressively.
VOA: Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik has been on the list of sanctions by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) since 2017. Despite his status and growing obstruction, U.S. officials Palmer and Ambassador Eric Nelson recently met with Dodik. Will you meet with Dodik, and if so, what would be your message to him?
Escobar: I’m not sure if I’m going to meet with him, I need to decide on that first, as well as what my message will be.
VOA: In general, what are your priorities for the Western Balkans and the most pressing issues you want to address?
Escobar: There are two very important issues. First, in the medium term, we want faster integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union (EU). I believe that tremendous progress has been made, historically, culturally, and economically these countries are part of Europe, and many of the countries have already made remarkable reforms and are a good opportunity for Europe. They share the same values and have common interests with the rest of Europe. That will be a priority. Also, NATO membership to those who are interestedshould be provided. This will, obviously, require me to work closely with our partners, the Quint countries (Germany, the United Kingdom – U.K, France, Italy), many of whom share similar views. However, from our perspective, it should be a process that should be dynamic and active. I would like to see the dynamics in that process. The second process has a lot to do with thinking about what the Balkans will be for the next generations and that is why we examined economic options.
VOA: How does the U.S. see the concept of the “Serbian world” and the recent initiatives of President Aleksandar Vucic and other officials to promote Serbian identity and “unity” in the region? Could this trend lead to destabilization in the region?
Escobar: It remains to be seen, but I can tell you that there is no conflict, no contradiction, between people celebrating their culture while living in another country. In this country, we celebrate each other’s culture. But the question is whether it then becomes a political and military imperative and in this regard,we absolutely believe that citizens of different nationalities living in another country – citizens of the country in which they live, have obligations to it, and foreign countries should not mix these two things, Klix.ba writes.
E.Dz.
