The US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, assessed that the crisis in Ukraine will renew European interest in the reform path of the countries of the region towards the European Union.

“A certain level of vision and unity has been created, especially among NATO members, which has helped us understand what we are really talking about. It is about European defense, about defending democracy and values. So I see a need for renewal of purpose among my European partners when it comes to relations with aspiring countries, and that is why I think there will be new efforts to push those countries to make reforms to the need for full membership, “said Escobar.

Escobar is a guest at the Croatian-American Forum in Zagreb on April 4-5, which is being held to mark the 30th anniversary of Croatia’s recognition of the United States on April 7, 1992.

Moreover, the crisis caused by Russian aggression against Ukraine, Escobar added, has renewed Europe ‘s focus on EU candidate countries that proactively express their solidarity with European values.

“You can see this very clearly when the European Union was very persistent and very successful in Serbia’s vote in the UN for the resolution condemning Russian aggression. It was an important step,” Escobar said.

According to him, there are great challenges in Bosnia and Herzegovina, there should be faster progress in the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo and Montenegro, which is a good friend of the United States, was very sensitive to malicious influences.

“Yes, there are challenges, but – in the words of Bill Clinton [former US president] – there is nothing wrong with the Western Balkans that cannot be corrected by what is good in the Western Balkans,” said Escobar.

Croatian President Zoran Milanovic said the United States was more responsible for Croatia’s membership in NATO and that in the 1990s war in Croatia it indirectly, above all, helped Croatia.

Speaking about the Russian attack on Ukraine, he said that neither Ukraine nor Russia are “very democratic”, criticizing Europe for not paying enough attention to the Western Balkans in the Ukrainian crisis, especially Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo, and their European prospect. 

Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24. The countries of the Western Balkans, except Bosnia and Herzegovina, have condemned Russian aggression. Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Albania have also imposed sanctions on Russia.

/Klara Ruci/