Escobar: Milorad Dodik challenges the stability and security of Bosnia and Herzegovina

(Patria) - Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Kosovo are the most problematic countries in the Western Balkans.

The transatlantic community is determined to resolve the issues, said the special envoy of the State Department for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar.

"As you know, Bosnia faces very significant challenges. I believe the biggest challenge now is that for more than 25 years, Dodik has been challenging the foundations of stability and security of Bosnia and Herzegovina - namely the Dayton Peace Agreement, as well as all structures within it, including the peacekeeping forces and the High Representative.

So, this is truly the greatest challenge for Bosnia and Herzegovina at this moment.

That is why, together with responsible voices, we must decide how to strengthen Dayton and how to move Bosnia and Herzegovina forward on its European path," he said in an interview with Voice of America, the Albanian language editorial team.

Escobar also announced a new meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.

He warned that Belgrade should start joining Western sanctions against Russia.

"I want to say that we believe Serbia should impose sanctions. There is no legal obligation to do so, and it is clear that every country conducts its own foreign policy. But it is not in the interest of Serbia's image to remain on the periphery of the European family. So, this is what we have repeated and will repeat again," he stated.

Speaking about Montenegro, Escobar conveyed the view that the new government should be formed as soon as possible.

But he also set a condition:

"The United States has been very clear that we want to see only parties focused on European integration and committed to NATO, and which also share our stance on the issue of Russia.

I think we are very clear about that," he said, adding that Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović understood the message well "and he signaled that he agrees with it."