The US sees the Open Balkans as an opportunity, said Gabriel Escobar, US President Joe Biden ‘s special envoy for the Western Balkans, at the end of a mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Convictions against the much-talked-about Bosnian politicians are on the table, along with other economic instruments. “I would not like to talk about sanctions against Republika Srpska (Bosnian Serb-majority entity),” Escobar said, noting that “people in the region have already suffered a lot.”

“US sanctions against Bosnian politicians, including other effective economic means, are a real option,” the diplomat added.
“I understand the hesitation about the Open Balkans. The US supports all initiatives that economically integrate the region, including the Open Balkans, initiatives that currently include North Macedonia, Serbia and Albania. Business people, youth, economies are developing and the Bosnian authorities need to understand that this is a chance and they need to go in that direction. We see the Open Balkans as an opportunity and we will ensure that this initiative is effective not for political gain, but to raise the region to the level of European standards,” he said.

Escobar, on a mission for the deep political-institutional crisis that has been blocking Bosnia-Herzegovina for months, met yesterday with members of the tripartite presidency in Sarajevo, while today in Banja Luka he held talks with local government officials and members of the opposition.

/Klara Ruci/