Escobar: I hope that Serbia will impose sanctions on Russia after the formation of the government

The US special emissary for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, said that he hopes that Serbia would join other Western Balkan countries and impose sanctions on Russia following the formation of a new government in Belgrade.

Almost all the countries of the Western Balkans have agreed to make Russia pay the price for this (occupation) through sanctions, out of support for Ukraine and its people.

“I hope that Serbia will join this group and obey the sanctions when it forms the government,” said Escobar during the Southeast European Democracy Summit in Budva.

At the meeting which was attended by officials from the US, EU, Great Britain and the Western Balkan countries, he said that Serbia is the only country in the region that has not imposed sanctions on Russia.

Serbia is the only country in Europe that has not imposed sanctions on Russia, although it has agreed to United Nations (UN) resolutions and European Union statements condemning the Russian occupation of Ukraine, and such a stand is justified by official Belgrade such as to “protect the vitality of the country’s interests”.

The US emissary complimented the fact that the EU and NATO reconfirmed “the open door policy”.

“I think it is important that the EU reaffirms its open door policy. And this policy applies not only to Ukraine and other countries at risk, but also reminds us that six other countries are well ahead of Ukraine,” has noted Escobar.

He stressed that the countries of the Western Balkans have made “great progress” and “impressive reforms” and expressed hope that Europe will implement what it states today when it comes to the European integration of the Western Balkans.