The administration of US President Donald Trump needs to act urgently in order to preserve peace and stability in the Balkans, assessed Southeastern Europe expert Daniel Server.
In the text for the latest issue of the magazine of the Council for International Relations, Server cited as one of the main causes of instability in the Balkans the interference of Russia, which, in his opinion, does not want the pro-Western and pro-democratic development of that part of Europe.
As reported by the Voice of America, Server did not rule out the outbreak of violence due to extremists in Albania, Macedonia and Serbia, which, according to him, could lead to a new wave of ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity, moving borders, further Islamic radicalization, as well as the collapse of existing institutions in the region. .
Server advocates for increased Western diplomatic and economic intervention, to prevent new chaos in the Balkans, and at the same time offers three options, the first of which is the further implementation of the policy of European integration of the Western Balkans, which the European Union promoted successfully, as he said, all until recently.
"The United States came to the rescue, but only when our transatlantic partners needed help. However, Europe is currently beset by a series of difficulties - from Brexit, the migrant crisis, the increased influence of the extreme right, to disagreements about the survival of the Eurozone," said Server.
Server also referred to the proposals of some analysts, as well as politicians, about a new border redrawing, pointing out that he personally rejects this option, as an idea that is not only contrary to American interests, but goes against the basic democratic values of the USA.
The third option advocated by Server envisages much more active American engagement than so far, and as he pointed out in the text, Congress and the White House have been informed of all his recommendations.
"It would be a new American initiative, but in the area of only a few of the most important issues, including the constitutional reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the status of Kosovo and the issue of Macedonia's name," Server specified.
According to Server's assessment, the two softest targets of Russian interference in the Western Balkans are Republika Srpska and Macedonia.
"Russia will do absolutely everything it can to prevent the entry of Macedonia into NATO, as it fought against the entry of Montenegro into NATO, while in Republika Srpska it will do everything it can so that Milorad Dodik never accepts any proposal for the constitutional consolidation of Bosnia and Herzegovina ", Server said, adding that it is up to America to change that.
The server also proposes the appointment of a special envoy for the Western Balkans with the task of evaluating the success and shortcomings in the implementation of the peace agreements in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, as well as making specific recommendations for further American policy to resolve the current stalemate in Southeast Europe.
He also assessed that the US Congress should have a more energetic role regarding the Western Balkans.
"It is important that American diplomats, especially our ambassadors in the region, have the feeling that Congress is behind them. After the departure of Obama and the arrival of the Trump administration, our diplomats may not have been sure whether Congress would support them. I hope my writing will be useful. in that respect," Server added.
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