Wilson: Even the US sit in the Kosovo- Serbia

The organisation has invited foreign ministers of the region's countries and experts known from both sides of the Atlantic to submit new ideas and proposals about policies that can be pursued in the Balkans and promote a new American commitment to the region.

Damon Wilson, executive vice president of the Atlantic Council, told the Serbian Voice of America service that the disturbing trends that have recently been observed in the region, such as the coup attempt in Montenegro, the failure to function governance in Bosnia or slow progress in the Pristina-Belgrade talks, show that the time has come for a new United States engagement in the region, reports VOA.

The time has come for the United States to redirect a clear vision that the Western Balkan region will be part of the transatlantic community. This is our vision, and this is the strategy the United States must follow in partnership with the European Union”.

Wilson says the United States should play a special role in security in the region by sending a strong signal that the American security presence is stable and permanent, especially after Russia's recent active intervention in the Balkans.

This presence must go beyond KFOR to project American influence and say that we are there to build capacity whether in the fight against terrorism or the quick response. As we are adding to our presence in northeast Europe, we must do the same in Southeast Europe”.

The Atlantic Council recommends the return of the American command to Bondsteel to a permanent American military presence in Southeast Europe.

This command will connect with several other forces in the region, such as Romania, Turkey or Greece, to become part of the equation to have forces deployed in the Balkans. This will allow us for capacity building, especially with Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia and Albania”.

The Atlantic Council also recommends that the United States be part of a process that will lead to resolving some political obstacles that continue to keep some countries in the region locked up.

“The United States must serve as an honest mediator to achieve real progress on the political front, whether in talks between Pristina and Belgrade, or in helping Greece and Macedonia become Allied countries in the future. There is a role and an opportunity, given some changes in the field, that American diplomacy and the EU push negotiations in the right direction to remove some of the” barriers.

Responding to the question whether the American administration should be part of Serbia-Kosovo dialogue talks, Wilson said:

I think it's logical that the United States is part of this process. First of all, both sides, Pristina and Belgrade must agree on that. The European Union has played and continues to play an important role to mediate this process. But Americans shouldn't sit outside the chat room. We must play our role in bringing this process to a constructive conclusion. I think American participation can play a constructive role”.

Report called “A coming storm? Forming a future in the Balkans in an era of uncertainty” is the result of a year-long work this organisation has done in co-operation with Congress, the State Department and the administration of President Trump and will be presented at a conference that will take place on November 29th in the organisation's facilities.