The US extends the national emergency for the Western Balkans

2023-06-21 10:00:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The US extends the national emergency for the Western Balkans

Joe Biden

The White House announced through an announcement that the US President, Joe Biden, has decided to extend the national emergency regarding the Western Balkans at least until June 26, 2024.

This emergency was declared by executive order on June 26, 2001, but Biden, in a statement issued on June 20, announced that it will be extended beyond June 26 of this year due to the situation in the Western Balkans.

In the announcement of the White House it is stated that "the actions of persons who threaten peace and international efforts for stabilization in the Western Balkans" and the current situation in this region "present an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States." ".

"For this reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared by executive order regarding the Western Balkans," says Biden's message to the American Congress.

On June 8, 2021, the US had expanded the scope of this national emergency, after it said that the countries of the former Yugoslavia and Albania have faced, during the last two decades, corruption and actions that hinder the agreements reached after the war .

Meanwhile, on June 20, Washington's envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, said that the tensions between Kosovo and Serbia have the "potential to turn into a regional conflict".

He made these statements in a debate held by the Atlantic Council in Washington, together with the EU envoy for dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak.

"I am very concerned. This situation has the potential to turn into a regional conflict, a regional confrontation. Therefore, we are very supportive of European efforts," said Escobar.

"It should be a European effort. These countries are in Europe, their greatest aspirations are to become part of Europe and while they normalize their relations, they also harmonize their systems with Europe. Also, as the most supportive of Kosovo, we would like to see it part of NATO, the EU. What we want is a process that addresses the concerns of the five non-recognizing EU states, and this should be a European process," he added. .

Tensions in the north have been rising since May 26. That day, the Serbs started protests against the entry into the municipal buildings of the new Albanian mayors of Zveçan, Zubin Potok and Leposaviq, who entered the buildings with the assistance of the Kosovo Police./ Rel