Escobar: US will be increasingly engaged in the region, main focus on fighting corruption

(Patria) - US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar stated that the US will be increasingly engaged in the region and that their main focus will be fighting corruption.

In an interview with the daily Nova from Saturday, he emphasized that it is necessary to improve election conditions in Serbia, enhance media access, but also pointed out that the opposition should participate in that.

Escobar stated that the US, together with its European partners, demands from the authorities in Belgrade to implement reforms that will enable the opening of political space, stop attacks on civil organizations, and create adequate conditions for the functioning of independent media and the opposition.

He rejected the assessment that the US tolerates the authoritarian regime of President Aleksandar Vučić and that there are no reactions, but pointed out that neither the US nor the EU are the ones who decide on the distribution of political forces in Serbia, that they do not choose the country's leadership, but that voters do.

Escobar also expressed confidence that Serbia is on the path to the EU.

“That is the official position of the government and a clearly expressed desire of the people, but also a place where Serbia has been through its history and culture, and where it is now economically. That is why I hope that Serbia will continue its path towards Europe,” said Escobar.

Regarding his upcoming visit to Belgrade and Pristina, together with EU envoy Miroslav Lajčák, he said that its goal is to encourage the two sides to continue the dialogue under the auspices of the EU, in order to overcome their mutual differences and continue the path towards the EU.

He added that the second reason for his visit is to improve cooperation between the US and Serbia and Kosovo.