Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns, accompanied by Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs William R. Brownfield, will travel to Vienna, Austria to attend the Paris Pact Ministerial in support of regional and Afghan counternarcotics efforts on February 16. He will then travel to Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Croatia for meetings with senior officials on bilateral and regional issues, February 16-20.

During his meetings, Deputy Secretary Burns will underscore the U.S. commitment to the countries of the Western Balkans and continued support for their Euro-Atlantic aspirations. He will encourage greater regional cooperation and stress the need for country leaders to address key issues like rule of law and economic development.