James C. O’Brien, the man proposed by the President United States to be appointed as the head of the Coordination Office for Sanctions, will take on a new post created in the American administration, with similar authority to that of an ambassador.

During a hearing in Senate, O’Brien said he has been working for 30 years with American legislation involving sanctions. The American diplomat explained that there are 20 levels of sanctions, adding that they are an integral part of US foreign policy strategies.

According to him, sanctions are imposed with clear intentions with more than 950 people targeted in the past years.

“I’ve seen how important these sanctions are and I know it’s vital. We must make sure that these sanctions are fully implemented”, said O’Brien.

He said that there are hundreds of people in the American administration working on this matter, including people from the intelligence services.

“There are hundreds of officials from the Department of State and Treasury, as well as other agencies, which promote anti-corruption, human rights, war on terrorism, against narcotics and in defending other essential principles of US foreign policy”, he said.

The US diplomat said that the administration has identified people that will soon be slapped with sanctions.

“Sanctions are essential in the fight against corruption as corruption is considered by the United States as a threat to democracy”, O’Brien told the Senate.

According to him, sanctions need not only be well-justified but also must fulfill their objectives.

James C. O’Brien joined the US State Department in 1989 as a diplomatic advisor.

He has also worked as Special Envoy for the Balkans and advisor to the US Ambassador at the United Nations and of former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

O’Brien is an expert on issues involving the Western Balkans region and held an important role in the Dayton Agreement, the US-brokered peace deal between Bosnia, Croatia, and Serbia.