US not losing interest in Western Balkans

Foreign ministers of Western Balkan countries said improving relations with Europe and the United States will be essential to stabilising the region, which some experts describe exposed to foreign anti-Western influences.

At a conference in Washington about the United States strategy in the region, officials told the Voice of America that expanding memberships in the European Union and NATO is essential for European security and preservation of democracy.

Nikola Dimitrov, Macedonia's foreign minister, EU and NATO candidate country since 2005, said that “needs to strengthen democracy governed by the rule of law. Our region is circulated by NATO and EU member states. Europe must be consolidated. As the immigrant crisis proved, we must make sure that the region is an integral part of our continent's democracy system. True, we have increased tensions in the region as a result of the revival of antagonism between the West and the Russian Federation. It's not about whether we like Russia or not. I don't think this should be the choice. It's about the voice of our citizens who want to see Macedonia part of the alliance (of NATO. This is our destiny. That's our” road.

EU Membership

After 17 cycles of action plans for EU membership, Macedonia is expected to begin its rotating cycle on December 11th.

Dimitrov told the Voice of America that “is the right time to complete the process. Will be good for the region; will be good for NATO and any country that interests the stability of the region; it must support our NATO membership”.

A new report published by the Atlantic Council describes the Western Balkans “as unfinished work for a full and free Europe”.

The conference was followed by meetings between Balkan ministers and American officials, among them A. Wes Mitchell, Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, as well as White House National Security Adviser H.R. McMister.

Montenegro's Foreign Minister, Srdjan Darnovolic, said that <x0 minus McMuster spoke very seriously about what the US considers the biggest security challenges in the Western Balkans, and stressed that the United States is not losing interest and that they are not planning to be inactive in the Western Balkans. On the contrary, the US is very interested in achieving stability and democracy, and has the will to support the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Balkan countries that want it”.

Montenegro, the smallest Balkan country, began EU membership talks in 2012, and became the 29th NATO member during a June ceremony at the State Department, despite Russia's strong objections.

Once part of the former Yugoslavia, a Moscow bastion, Montenegro became an independent republic in 2006, when Montenegrins voted in a referendum on partition from Serbia.

During his speech at the conference, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said Belgrade aims to continue its journey towards EU membership, while continuing to have free trade agreements with Turkey and the Russian Federation. Mr. Dacic described the EU as the “primary partner in foreign policy” and noted the improvement of economic relations with the United States.

Speaking of joint infrastructure projects, Dacic said that “in the Western Balkans, we are (with the US) the most important economic partners”.

Military Presence

The Atlantic Council report proposes the permanent preservation of an American military presence in Kosovo to protect the region from Russian efforts to exercise political influence.

Dacic was asked whether this proposal comes after US concerns of a Serb-Russian Humanitarian Centre in the Serbian town of Nis.

“If five Russians, four Serbs and a dog are perceived as equal to Bondstheel, it freaks me out”, Dacic said, referring to Camp Bondsteel, a US and NATO military base located in Kosovo since 1999.

The US State Department voiced concern in June for the new centre Russia manages in Nis. Several Western groups and military analysts view this centre as a campaign for a military base aimed at surveillance of American interests in the Balkans.

Daciac told the Voice of America that “I want to stress this: When elephants fall in love or quarrel, the grass is damaged anyway. Serbia does not want to be grass -- in other words -- in the position of the weak. So we need to take care of our interests”.

Serbia, which has started negotiations on EU membership since January 2014, is not planning to join NATO, the alliance that bombed Yugoslavia in 1999.

The situation is the opposite for Albania, which is NATO member country since 2009, but is still waiting for the opening of talks with the EU, which is expected to be made early next year.

Albania's Foreign Minister, Ditmir Bushati, told Voice of America that the country is progressing towards reform in justice and other measures that will facilitate this talks.

“I expect that, and I think it is quite possible, that 2018 will be the year Albania will start negotiations on EU membership and sit at the negotiating table with concrete results from reform to justice and the fight against organised crime and corruption”, he said.

Guarantees offered during meetings

Bosnian Foreign Minister Igor Crnadak said he felt most guaranteed after meetings with American diplomats and White House officials.

“Meeting with Mr. Wes Mitchell was very important, as the key point of determination to help the region and Bosnia, on the road forward and the continuation of the implementation of reforms”, said Crnadak, whose country, with a majority Muslim majority, is seen as vital to protecting Europe and international terrorist organisations targeting the European continent.

Bosnia, an EU candidate country, is also intended to join NATO since April 2010, when it took advantage of a Membership Action Plan during the summit in Tallinn.

In a press release, National Security Adviser McMister noted that “Western Balkans continue to be a top priority for the United States”, and stressed that the Trump “administration remains fully committed to the region's Euro-Atlantic aspirations and efforts for European integration”