Beden expands sanctions area for companies, people in the Western Balkans

The president of the United States, Joe Biden, has expanded the area of sanctions Wednesday for companies and people involved in destabilizing Western Balkan countries.

That is true of those who submit to US punitive measures for challenging the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Western Balkan countries, violating post-war agreements and institutions, and participating in significant corruption that violates the rule of law and trust in democratic governance and avoiding US government sanctions.

With this executive order, Biden has taken additional steps, changing and fulfilling three commands concerning the Western Balkans from 2021, which have to do with blocking assets and preventing US entry for people contributing to the destabilisation of the region, the White House said in a statement.

The 2021 regulation envisions that sanctions block asset blocking and the US entry ban on persons directly or indirectly responsible for actions and policies that threaten peace, security, stability or territorial integrity of a zone or state in the Western Balkans undermine processes or democratic institutions, violate human rights or engage in corruption.

Sanctions apply to people who, directly or indirectly, have participated or tried to participate in violations, obstruction or risking the implementation of regional security, peace agreements or agreements for mutual recognition in the Western Balkans, the report says.

“Here includes the 2001 Ohrid Framework Agreement, UN Security Council Resolution 1244, Dayton Agreement, or Peace Implementation Council conclusions held in London in December 1995, including decisions or conclusions of the High Representative, the Council for Peace Implementation, or its Steering Board, or International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, namely, the International Mechanism remaining for Criminal Court”, is now said in the statement.

What's new?

The new regulation points out that sanctions apply to anyone the US Treasury Department, in consultation with the U.S. State Department, determines to be director, officer, or member of a unit, including a government entity that has participated or attempted to participate in any of the activities defined by previous regulations.

The measures will also apply to those who helped, sponsored or offered financial, material or technological support, or goods or support services, for each person whose assets and interests are blocked in accordance with that regulation.

They also apply to those who claim to possess or control, directly or indirectly, each person whose wealth and interests are blocked in accordance with the regulation.

Measures now apply to adult spouses or children of those whose wealth and interests are blocked in accordance with the regulation.

Beden stressed in the decree that additional steps are being taken to function the events in the Western Balkans, including the continued efforts of individuals to challenge the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Western Balkan states, to undermine post-war agreements and institutions, to engage in considerable corruption that undermine rule of law and trust in democratic governance and avoid US government sanctions”.