Members of Congress urge Biden administration to increase engagement in Western Balkans over Ukraine

Nineteen US Congress members signed a letter urging the Biden administration to increase diplomatic engagement in the Western Balkans in the context of the Russian occupation of Ukraine.

The letter was posted on Twitter by the member of the Nevada House of Representatives, Diva Titus. In the letter directed to US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, the signatories called for redoubled efforts to consolidate democracy and promote the integration of the Western Balkans into Western Europe.

The letter states that given Russia’s illegal occupation of Ukraine, it is now more important than ever for the United States to deepen its commitment and participation in the Balkans.

“The full integration of the Western Balkans into the transatlantic community must be a priority for the United States, as we seek to strengthen alliances across Europe and oppose the expansion and influence of autocratic regimes, including those of Russia and China. Russia and China are promoting authoritarian and anti-democratic narratives In the Western Balkans. Along with the divisive rhetoric spread by some leaders in the region, the hard-won benefits of democracy are under serious threat” – the signatories said. The letter recalls that in mid-January, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the OSCE Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina expressed the concern that the actions and rhetoric prevalent in Serbia and BiH, which praised convicted war criminals, may provoke a resurgence of violence.

“Specifically, the threat of Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik to withdraw the entity from state institutions possesses a major threat to the Dayton Agreement and the stability of BiH as a state. Serbia’s new democracy continues to struggle with the challenges of weak separation of branches, unequal political representation and polarized media,” said members of the Congress.

They also express concern that the lack of normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo threatens the stability in the region and stressed that this issue requires immediate attention.

Members of Congress highlighted that they are concerned about the growth of the bad influence of Moscow and Beijing in the Western Balkans, which as they say, threatens to cancel years of international work in support of resilient democracies.

As the world watches Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine unfold, it is more important than ever for the U.S. to deepen its engagement in the Balkans. Today I led a letter with my colleagues urging @StateDept to demonstrate our readiness to support democratic values abroad. pic.twitter.com/c0FVz7iEYI

— Dina Titus (@repdinatitus) March 4, 2022

“The reluctance of some EU members to admit new members has fueled euro-skepticism throughout the region and there are indications that some citizens are willing to sacrifice democracy for quick solutions that improve their economic situation.”

“We believe that the United States should send a strong signal to the Western Balkans and the rest of the world that they are ready to strongly support democratic values ​​and to promote the region’s role as a strategic partner in transatlantic relations,” The Congress, who proposed that the focus be on five points: increasing investment and regional integration, supporting EU enlargement, and promoting the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue. According to the letter, 14 years after Kosovo’s declaration of independence, it is time for Serbia and Kosovo to reach an agreement on the normalization of relations.

“Through American and European engagement, and a campaign that would change the established attitudes of the public in both countries, progress is possible in resolving the remaining issues,” said members of Congress.

The fourth point is Bosnia and Herzegovina, members of Congress stress that Bosnian Serb leaders continue to “pursue a divisive policy that is contrary to the Dayton Peace Agreement” and “raise tensions between the Bosniak, Croat and Serb communities” that may lead to violence, which would be difficult to stop.

And the fifth point is to help democratize the region.