Blinken talks about US president signed order for Western Balkan countries

The United States is aware that corruption threatens economic equality, the fight against poverty, economic development efforts, and democracy itself. Corruption, wherever it is, directly harms the foreign policy, national security and the economy of the United States, as well as our partners' allies”, points out Blinken, in a statement issued after President Biden's executive order to expand the map and criteria of imposing sanctions on individuals and organisations involved in corruption and organised crime in the Western Balkans.

The United States “ ” stresses Blinken, “committed to promoting accountability as well as to combat impunity against those involved in major cases of corruption in the Western Balkans and anywhere in the world”.

Proclaiming the fight against corruption as a national security priority of the United States, the Biden administration appears to be prepared to maintain against individuals, who believe they engage in major acts of corruption and undermine the legal state, the same attitude as toward those who have endangered peace in the Western Balkans.

According to Blinken, President Biden's recent executive order extends the map of sanctions in the Western Balkans, including several recent-year agreements, such as Prespa's of 2018, or the extension of The Hague War Crimes Court's mandate in the former Yugoslavia.

Besides those who risk peace and security, sanctions can now be imposed on individuals who destabilise the region by undermining democratic institutions and the rule of law, or violating human rights.

To hit the corruption networks extended in the Western Balkans better, notes Secretary Blinken, the Executive Order now includes Albania as well.

So far, the Executive Order, a year-long continuation of the positions of various American administrations since 2001, included only countries stemming from the violent break-up of the former Yugoslavia.

According to Secretary Blicen “Executive Order authorises the imposing of sanctions on individuals, or entities, who are responsible for corruption in the region, which are involved in misuse of public funds, changing private properties for personal or political benefits, or engaged in bribes. Property, or interest in different properties, that individuals designated under the Executive Order have in the United States, or that they are related to the United States, or that they fall into the hands of persons in the United States, will be blocked and American citizens are forbidden to conduct transactions with them. In addition, individuals determined under this command will not be allowed to enter the United States”, the Secretary Blinken points out. /voa/