"Any initiative that comes from the American Congress should be taken seriously," says Ivan Vujačić, former Serbian ambassador to the United States, according to Radio Free Europe.
This is how he comments on the bill presented in the House of Representatives, which calls for measures against Serbia due to its democratic regression and its relations with Russia and China.
The bill, which Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has had access to, was introduced by Republican Joe Wilson and Democrat Bill Keating.
Vujačić estimates that the initiative is not expected to have any immediate impact on relations between Serbia and the US, but that it constitutes an important signal in Congress, as it comes from representatives of both parties.
"It's also significant that this is being talked about in this way, in a concrete form – which has not been the practice recently," he says.
Wilson and Keating's initiative comes after the United States and Serbia launched the Strategic Dialogue in mid-July, with the aim of deepening cooperation.
The draft law also stipulates that the Strategic Dialogue be conditioned on addressing issues related to Serbia's relations with Russia, China and Iran, as well as the state of democracy in Serbia.
Regarding this initiative, the US State Department told Radio Free Europe only that it "looks forward to cooperating with Serbia to ensure long-term stability in the Western Balkans."
The Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Serbian Presidency did not respond to REL's questions regarding the US congressmen's bill.
The bill also states that the United States should impose financial sanctions and visa restrictions on malign actors who contribute to the destabilization of the Western Balkans.
Sanctions are also foreseen against persons who threaten the peace, security, stability or territorial integrity of any area or state in the region.
The draft law also calls for measures against those in the Western Balkans who are involved in undermining democratic processes and institutions, in corruption, or in serious human rights violations.
Sanctions are also foreseen for obstructing regional agreements and frameworks related to security, peace, cooperation or mutual recognition.
The draft law is titled "Act on Supporting the Rule of Law, Building Institutional Justice and Accountability", or "SRBIJA Act" for short.
