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WASHINGTON, October 24 (FENA) - The United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation held a hearing yesterday in Washington on the topic of Western Balkans. In this context, Deputy Assistant Secretary and Special Representative for the Western Balkans, Matthew Palmer has referred to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the situation in the region on several occasions.
Palmer said in his address turning to Bosnia and Herzegovina, that the US is supporting efforts to reach an agreement or a compromise that allows for government formation at all levels as well as submission of Bosnia’s ANP to NATO.
“We continue to find leadership at both the entity and state levels to be disappointing, parochial, nationalistic, and risk-averse, doing little to help ordinary citizens.
As a new generation of political leaders emerges at the cantonal and municipal levels, particularly in the Sarajevo Canton, there is a reason to be hopeful. We continue to be optimistic that Bosnia and Herzegovina can succeed, and as a guarantor of the Dayton Peace Accords, we remain committed to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country,” said Palmer.
Palmer further spoke about the peoples of the Western Balkans, noting that their governments have made clear what they want, a more secure, prosperous, and democratic future for themselves and the entire region.
“The United States fully supports these efforts - something we cannot say of all the external actors that increasingly see the region as ripe for engagement and interference.
Some of these actors have very different values and very different visions for the future of the region. Russia rejects the post-Cold War settlement in Europe and is trying to push back on it with a variety of tools, overt and covert, in order to forestall the region’s Euro-Atlantic integration. It seeks to incite divisions and chaos,” stressed Palmer.
He further noted that the Chinese authorities have been insinuating themselves in the region through their “17+1” and “Belt and Road” initiatives, as well as their investment in strategic industries and information and physical infrastructure, creating new political and economic vulnerabilities.
“Turkish engagement and influence is present across the Western Balkans – primarily focused in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Albania and North Macedonia – and appears to be increasing in scale and scope in Montenegro as well. Under President Erdogan, Turkey has invested heavily in the region in an effort to expand its political, cultural and economic foothold. It has provided development aid, invested in major infrastructure projects, and restored mosques,” said Palmer.
He added that the US welcomes Turkey’s engagement when it serves a constructive role in helping the countries of the Western Balkans achieve their stated goal of Euro-Atlantic integration.
Also, given Turkey’s historical role in the region and deepening economic ties, Turkey’s support of the Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue and Prespa Agreement is particularly important.
“To support the countries of the Western Balkans' own stated goals, we need to increase our own engagement and investment in the region and re-energize partnerships with these important partners. The countries of the Western Balkans need to know what they will get—and what they stand to lose—from the “deals” Moscow and Beijing peddle.
But messaging is not enough; we need to increase American private sector presence and investment in the region. It is indisputable that congressional support has been instrumental in our successful partnership with the people and the governments of the region,” underlined Palmer in his address before the Subcommittee.
(FENA) S. R.
