On July 13, United States Ambassador to Serbia Christopher Hill said that the United States does not wish to have any relationship with the Director of the Security and Information Agency of Serbia (BIA) Aleksandar Vulin, but the sanctions imposed against him as an individual do not imply worsened relations with Serbia.
“The US carefully studied Vulin and his activities, and reached the conclusion that he is not someone we want in America. In this way, sanctions are a way to protect the US,” Hill told reporters during a tour of the Belo Brdo archaeological site.
On July 11, the Office of Foreign Assets Control in the US Department of the Treasury placed the director of BIA Aleksandar Vulin on the sanctions list.
According to the Treasury, Vulin is involved in corrupt affairs to “advance his political agendas and personal interests at the expense of peace and stability in the Western Balkans”.
Ambassador Hill said he believes Serbia is on the right path and that relations between the US and Serbia are good and improving.
“The US wants to assist Serbia, which clearly demonstrates its desire to be part of Western institutions. We will assist Serbia to the extent desired by Belgrade itself,” Hill said.
During a visit to the restoration and rehabilitation works at an archaeological site, carried out by the Government of Serbia and overseen by the US Embassy, Hill added that Vulin will not be able to obtain a US visa.
Deputy Secretary of the US Department of the Treasury, Brian E. Nelson, stated in the explanation of the sanctions against Vulin on July 11 that the decision held him accountable for alleged corrupt and destabilizing acts that also enabled Russia’s malign activities in the region.
He added that the Treasury Department would not refrain from targeting actors who “abuse their positions for personal gain while undermining democratic authorities in the Western Balkans”. Vulin’s party, the Socialist Movement, which is part of the coalition with the Serbian Progressive Party in power, dismissed the accusations and criticized the US. Vulin himself has not made a public statement.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has not yet responded to questions about whether he will replace Vulin but has announced an investigation into the US allegations.
Before becoming the director of BIA, Vulin served as Minister of Defense and Minister of Interior.
