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Corruption is a major problem in the Balkans, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Special Envoy for the Balkans Gabriel Escobar said in an interview with VOA in Serbian.
Escobar has said that sanctions are not the main tool of US engagement in the Western Balkans region, but that they have an effect and that there will be others.
Speaking about the sanctions imposed against Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency member Milorad Dodik and two other Bosnian officials, then against Milan Radojicic and Zvonko Veselinovic in Kosovo, he said he did not want people to think that the US was engaging in region mainly through sanctions.
Escobar said those sanctions are not aimed at certain countries or peoples, but individuals who are deeply involved in corruption.
Asked if the announcement of more sanctions applies to all Western Balkan countries, he said yes.
US policy and engagement in the Western Balkans has traditionally been linked to multiethnic reconciliation and EU integration, he said, but that the area of attention the Western Balkans has received in the US administration has changed in the past year.
Escobar noted that there is a renewed effort for the United States to engage in all mechanisms that were successful, and that, according to him, is to strengthen the Dayton Agreement, support and renew the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia and the cooperation of closely with NATO partners.
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