US President Donald Trump extended on Tuesday the national emergency decision with respect to the Western Balkans, which was declared in 2001, and informed the Congress that the threats for which the decision was passed are still present.

“The threat constituted by the actions of persons engaged in, or assisting, sponsoring, or supporting (i) extremist violence in the former Republic of Macedonia (what is now the Republic of North Macedonia) and elsewhere in the Western Balkans region, or (ii) acts obstructing implementation of the Dayton Accords in Bosnia or United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of June 10, 1999, in Kosovo, has not been resolved,” the US President said in the note sent to the Congress.

Trump's decision also reads that “the acts of extremist violence and obstructionist activity outlined in these Executive Orders are hostile to United States interests” and that they “continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.”

“For this reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency with respect to the Western Balkans,” he said.

Executive order to increase the national emergency with respect to the Western Balkans was initially signed by President George W. Bush on June 26, 2001.