United States Congress: Russia threatens Balkans, we do not expect EU to solve problems

Participants stressed that twenty-three years after the signing of the Dayton Agreement, the region's sustainability is threatened by harmful influence from external factors, lack of progress in the Euro-Atlantic integration process and unresolved conflicts.

Matthew Palmer, head of the State Department for South and Central Europe, invited to testify at the session, said Russia is the biggest external threat to Balkan countries.

The external actor we are concerned about at this time is the Russian Federation. Their intentions, not only in Bosnia, but throughout the region, are essentially contrary to our intentions. We are working to integrate Western Balkan countries into Euro-Atlantic institutions, while at the same time, Russians are working to sow distrust and conflict. This is disturbing to us. We are concerned about the Russian dezinformation campaign and Russian support for groups in Bosnia working on destroying the country's” identity.

Although the region is not currently threatened by a violent conflict, the United States and the European Union's commitment to counter external influence and address other problems could create conditions for future conflict, participants said.

America has a continuing responsibility to help countries in the region solve the remaining problems, said Republican lawmaker Dana Rohrabacher, Chairman of the European Subcommittee.

“We cannot stand aside and expect the European Union to solve problems. Experience has shown that Europe lacks the political determination to lead and our active commitment now would diminish the chances for more challenging intervention in the future”, said lawmaker Dana Rohhabacher, chairman of the House of Representatives' Foreign Relations Subcommittee.

While, Democrat lawmaker Gregory Meeks stressed that European Commission support for opening membership negotiations for Albania and Macedonia is an encouraging development.

But, according to him, the region faces a slowdown in progress in the process of Euro-Atlantic integration and an increase in negative influence from abroad.

“Bankers of Western Balkan countries are no longer so convinced of the benefits of EU and NATO membership as they used to, and foreign actors such as Turkey and Russia are increasingly interested and more willing to intervene negatively, jeopardising investments that the United States has made towards democratic peace in the region”.

Shirley Cley Diowardi of the Albanian-American League stressed before lawmakers the need for resolving the remaining ethnic conflicts, especially those in Macedonia.

She said the United States should stress respect for community rights.

US foreign policy in the Balkans in the past 20 years has focused on achieving stability at all costs, instead of establishing the prevention of conflict and respecting human rights at the heart of our engagement with the region. As a result, after the Dayton conflict agreement in the Balkans remains unresolved”.

Corruption and weak institutions are another challenge of Western Balkan countries, stressing the need for greater American and European commitment to help the region address these challenges, participants said. / VOA/