American Senator: Act on Democracy, Happiness in the Western Balkans Opposes Moscow's Influence

Senator Jeanne Shaheen said the Act on Democracy and Prosper in the Western Balkans seeks to turn the attention of the United States into a region where Russian influence has a long history and that Moscow can see as a second goal after aggression in Ukraine.

Russia has the interest to try to increase already existing tensions, to try to promote conflicts. And while Russia is looking to see where Ukraine can go after, of course the Western Balkans is one of the countries. // I can't imagine anyone in the world, but especially in Europe and the Western Balkans looking at what is happening in Ukraine, thinking it would want Russia to intervene and do the same in their countries”.

While the countries of the region have made progress in leading democratic governance, political divisions and increasing corruption remain threatening for democratic processes. To ensure a stability and commitment towards Western aspirations, the new bipartisan bill aims to strengthen American trade and investment in the Western Balkans.

This legislation makes it clear that an important part to ensure economic prosperity is promoting trade, not only between the United States and Europe and the region, but within the region, because the biggest trade partners in the Western Balkan countries are their neighbours and we want to find ways to encourage this trade”, the senator said.

Mrs. Shaheen said the draft law instructs the State Secretary to provide technical assistance to any Western Balkan country seeking to develop a national anti-corruption strategy.

“Facing corruption is a very important part. And what this legislation does is empower the Secretary of State to provide technical assistance to countries seeking assistance in meeting their challenges to corruption”.

Mrs. Shaheen was at the helm of a group of American senators who visited Kosovo, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in April. She said she saw closely the concerns of residents, especially young people who seek a better future for themselves and their families.

If people are hoping for the future if they know there is a possibility and there's a way ahead, then they'll be less inclined to pay attention to that kind of dezinformation. This is one of the points in the bill that I think is really important. / /And my message to leaders in the Western Balkans is to think about what their citizens want, to think about the future, what's good for the country by not continuing to promote a kind of conflict that has been so devastating in the past to their citizens”

Senator Shaheen said the future of the region towards the West and strengthening democratic governance is the best incentive to keep these countries out of Russian influence and Moscow's efforts to destabilise the region. / VOA