Congressmen send letters to Beden: Set sanctions on Serbia

The main requirement in this letter is to impose sanctions on those who destabilise the Western Balkans.

They have accused Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, of deepening corruption and pressure on the media.

The same say they are concerned about the political situation in Serbia and the impact such a situation could have on the Western Balkans and Europe.

“Sic said during your visit to Belgrade in August 2016, he is mainly in the interest of the United States itself for the people of Serbia to grow and progress. Therefore, we want to encourage your administration to engage Vucic in the fight against corruption and attacks on press freedom, two areas that are critical for a prosperous and democratic Serbia and its aspirations for EU membership”.

As the Serbian newspaper “Vijest” writes, the six members of the US Congress appeal to the head of “The White House” is considered using Executive Order 14033, where possible, to block property and prevent access to the United States of people contributing to destabilising the situation in the Western Balkans, in order to achieve a more transparent and responsible government in Serbia, to respect democracy, human rights and the legal state.

The letter writes that media freedom is not only a key American value involved in the US Constitution, but that this issue is also important for Washington's foreign policy and the fight against authoritarianism worldwide.

“Unfortunately, media freedom in Serbia has reached a low level. As Reporters Without Borders note: “Serbia is a country where journalists are exposed to almost daily attacks coming more and more from the ruling elite and the pro-government media. It is also clear that pro-government media are making progress and are in a mutually useful relationship with the” government.

The document is signed by conventioners: Raja Krishnamorth, Ritchie Torres, David N. Cyril, Jan Schaowsky, James P. McGovern and Mike Quigley.