Sanctions are an important tool for stabilizing the Western Balkans

 US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Special Envoy to the Balkans Gabriel Escobar says sanctions are not the main tool for US engagement in the Western Balkans region, but have an effect and new ones will be imposed, the Belgrade-based Politika newspaper quoted him as saying. 

In an interview with Voice of America radio, Escobar said corruption was the main problem in the Balkans.

 Speaking about sanctions against Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) presidency member Milorad Dodik and two other Bosnian officials, and then against Milan Radojicic and Zvonko Veselinovic in Kosovo and Metohija, he said he did not want people to think The United States is committed to the region primarily through sanctions.

However, he pointed out that the Washington administration is very committed to the fight against corruption and that one of the means in this fight is sanctions.

"And I can say that there will be more sanctions, but that will not be the main tool for our commitment," Escobar said.

 He added that these sanctions are not aimed at countries or certain peoples, but, as he said, at people who are deeply involved in corruption.

Asked if there would be more sanctions for all countries in the Western Balkans, he said yes, adding that the administration is committed to using other means, including the Global Magnitsky Law, against those involved in crime and corruption.

Escobar believes that sanctions are an important tool for stabilizing the region and have an effect.

 "I cannot and do not want to comment on details. And I can't talk about the details of our diplomatic engagement with different people in the region. I can tell you that sanctions prevent people from transferring money. "They prevent and lead to the closure of offshore companies through which money is transferred, especially public funds, through non-transparent processes that benefit very few people," Escobar said.