United Kingdom's Special Envoy for the Western Balkans is Stuart Peach

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has appointed a special envoy for the Western Balkans, as part of the UK's ongoing commitment to stability and prosperity in the region.

Sir Stuart Peach will take on this role after stepping down earlier this year as Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, a role he held from 2018. He also previously served as Chief of the Defence Staff of the United Kingdom.

As the Prime Minister's Special Envoy, Sir Stuart will engage with Western Balkans leaders and others across the region, as well as with our allies in the US and Europe to support and strengthen regional stability. His work will also include promoting strong democratic institutions and open societies, helping to tackle serious and organised crime and other shared security challenges, and encouraging the resolution of legacy issues such as war crimes and missing persons. In this regard, the UK will also continue to lead work to advance gender equality and implement the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sir Stuart's activities will support the work of the High Representative of the International Community, Christian Schmidt, who continues to have the full support of the United Kingdom. With regard to Serbia and Kosovo, he will work with our partners to support the Serbia-Kosovo dialogue, mediated by the European Union.

The High Representative warned that Bosnia and Herzegovina is currently facing the greatest existential threat of its post-war period and that there is a real possibility of further division and conflict. Together with international partners, the United Kingdom is working to address all threats to stability in accordance with the Dayton Peace Agreement, which has fostered hard-won progress in Bosnia and Herzegovina over the past 26 years. The United Kingdom is also helping to address other regional challenges, including supporting the normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo and combating organised criminal groups. The United Kingdom will play an important role, working closely with the governments of the region and its international partners.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the United Kingdom is deeply committed to European security.

"The Western Balkans faces the greatest threat to its stability and security in two decades. We have a duty to do everything we can to preserve the progress made through peace and dialogue – we must not allow any return to the violence and divisions of the past. Sir Stuart's extensive experience and expertise will strengthen international efforts to protect peace and promote Euro-Atlantic integration in this crucial region."

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said that the appointment of Sir Stuart is a clear indication of the United Kingdom's commitment to the Western Balkans and to defending and promoting freedom and democracy in the region.

"I look forward to deepening our economic and security ties with the Western Balkans and working together to deter malicious actors. Sir Stuart will play a key role in this effort."

The political situation in the Western Balkans was discussed at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Riga, and this topic will also be on the agenda of the G7 foreign ministers' meeting in Liverpool, announced earlier this week.