tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736921.post112256969458734142..comments2024-03-28T03:19:54.843-04:00Comments on KOSOVAREPORT: US Embassy to be built (Express)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736921.post-1123114936913257502005-08-03T20:22:00.000-04:002005-08-03T20:22:00.000-04:00You must be old, what else happened while you were...You must be old, what else happened while you were there?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736921.post-1122854666043970832005-07-31T20:04:00.000-04:002005-07-31T20:04:00.000-04:00You know what pisses me off, why does the Serb "na...You know what pisses me off, why does the Serb "name" end up being the "english" or "international" name when 95% of the country calls it Kosova.<BR/><BR/>Its like saying Italio and not Italia, or how about United States of Americo...jessus, why not start writing Kosova in cyrilic while they're at it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736921.post-1122732232979183222005-07-30T10:03:00.000-04:002005-07-30T10:03:00.000-04:00what do you mean?what do you mean?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736921.post-1122697576855283582005-07-30T00:26:00.000-04:002005-07-30T00:26:00.000-04:00Hold on a minute, this thing is not over just yet....Hold on a minute, this thing is not over just yet.<BR/><BR/>Congressman against American quasi-embassy in "Kosova" <BR/><BR/>MESSAGE IS FROM CONGRESSMAN TRENT FRANKS <BR/><BR/><BR/>Section 1019 of H.R. 2601 (authorizing appropriations for the Department of State) calls for a report describing the possibility of providing consular and visa services at the United States Office Pristina, Kosovo to the residents of Kosova (emphasis added). <BR/><BR/>The Franks Amendment removes Section 1019 from the bill for the following reasons: <BR/><BR/>1. The name of the province, in international use and official U.S. use, is "Kosovo" - not "Kosova". The term "Kosova" is a one-ethnicity based pronunciation of the name of the province. "Kosovo" is a term in international use and it should be used as such in public and official correspondence, as is the United States' official policy. It would be highly prejudicial for the U.S. Congress to refer to Kosovo as "Kosova", by which it would recognize and imply that the province is only Albanian, and would ignore the minority populations living there. Albanians would have the same objection to the U.S. Congress referring to Kosovo as Kosovo-Metohija. <BR/><BR/>2. In the hour of future negotiations between Belgrade, Pristina, and the international community on the status of Kosovo, Congressional action of this nature will be perceived as one-sided and prejudicial. Further, giving authority to the Secretary of State to empower the U.S. Mission in Pristina to render U.S. visas would be a dangerous precedent to set because the United States cannot render visas without the consent of the host country in accordance with the Vienna Convention. Therefore, conducting such a "report" is to ignore Serbia's role entirely and sends the wrong message. <BR/><BR/>3. The U.S. Consulate in Montenegro does not issue visas, why should the "office" in Kosovo? <BR/><BR/>4. Notwithstanding the political issue, the U.S. State Department has very practical concerns. Essentially, the U.S. Mission in Pristina does not have the facilities to do this. It has repeatedly indicated that there is a very real security issue (i.e. bringing people through the compound to do visa/consular services without the proper facilities or security apparatus to protect everyone). <BR/><BR/>5. Residents of Kosovo are currently able to obtain U.S. visas by either going to the U.S. Embassy in Macedonia (an approximate two-hour bus ride) or in Belgrade, Serbia. Residents around the world, for example in China, Russia, and India, often have to travel hundreds, if not thousands, of miles to obtain a visa. The current situation in Kosovo is not prohibitive, and in light of the serious diplomatic issues present, a report is not necessary at this time and sends an improper message. <BR/><BR/>In a controversial and sensitive environment, this Congressional action is not a diplomatic or prudent one at this time. Before we offer de facto independence and embassy rights to the people of Kosovo, we should let the status talks proceed as agreed to by the entire international communityAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736921.post-1122692585579819012005-07-29T23:03:00.000-04:002005-07-29T23:03:00.000-04:00Good news indeed. I hope they broadcast the ribbo...Good news indeed. I hope they broadcast the ribbon-cutting ceremony in Belgrade.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736921.post-1122667554635572962005-07-29T16:05:00.000-04:002005-07-29T16:05:00.000-04:00Ylber said:The following is an exerpt from a US St...Ylber said:<BR/><BR/>The following is an exerpt from a US State Departament document on the passing of the US Office in Kosova Act:<BR/><BR/>SEC. 1019. PROVISION OF CONSULAR AND VISA SERVICES IN PRISTINA, KOSOVA. <BR/><BR/>(a) Report- Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report describing the possibility of providing consular and visa services at the United States Office Pristina, Kosova (USOP) to residents of Kosova. <BR/><BR/>(b) Contents- The report required under subsection (a) shall contain the following information: <BR/><BR/> (1) The reasons why consular and visa services are not currently offered at the USOP, even though the Office has been in operation for more than five years. <BR/><BR/> (2) Plans for providing consular and visa services at the USOP, including conditions required before such services would be provided and the planned timing for providing such services. <BR/><BR/> (3) An explanation of why consular and visa services will not be offered at the USOP by January 1, 2007, if such services are not planned to be offered by such date. <BR/><BR/> (4) The number of residents of Kosova who apply for their visas outside of Kosova for each calendar year from 2000-2005. <BR/><BR/>Notice that they are referring to the region as Kosova not Kosovo. The main difference being the "a" at the end of the name which is the Albanian name for Kosovo instead of the Serb anme which is in official use.<BR/><BR/>Also notice that they will begin issuing visas for the "Residents of Kosova" there. By contrast you can not get a visa in the US Consulate in Podgorica, Montenegro.<BR/><BR/>What does this establish? <BR/>Simply that the US is opening up an embassy there and is getting ready for the formal recognition of Kosova's independence.<BR/><BR/>Best Regards, Ylber Burgija, Charlotte, NC.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736921.post-1122650060394365822005-07-29T11:14:00.000-04:002005-07-29T11:14:00.000-04:00Any way you look at it, it will come down to this:...Any way you look at it, it will come down to this:<BR/><BR/>What is easier to do, independence or give Kosova to Serbia?<BR/><BR/>Let's analize the options;<BR/><BR/>Option 1 - Independence <BR/><BR/>De facto, Kosova is not connected to Serbia in any way. There are no serbian troops, police, administration officials etc etc. In case the independence is recognized, there is no way that the Serbian troops will be able to enter Kosova due to the international presence.<BR/><BR/>Option 2 - Give Kosova back to serbia<BR/><BR/>That would mean a nationwide uprising in Kosova, bloodshed, serbian troops would enter Kosova, internationals would have to leave. This would bring Kosova and the Balkans back to the 90's.<BR/><BR/>Whoever thinks that option 2 is reasonable, really must be nuts. After all that was invested in Kosova, do you really think that the world is willing to go back to square 1 (90's)?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736921.post-1122644229268280252005-07-29T09:37:00.000-04:002005-07-29T09:37:00.000-04:00It matters what they call it, since Serbs will try...It matters what they call it, since Serbs will try and play down the fact that Kosova will be a country very soon :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736921.post-1122643782180983512005-07-29T09:29:00.000-04:002005-07-29T09:29:00.000-04:00Does it really matter what they call it. The botto...Does it really matter what they call it. The bottom line is the at some point in the future there will be two seats representing the Albanians in the UN, and in the EU. I think that is what the Serbs fear the most, Albanians representing themselves.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736921.post-1122631438614353332005-07-29T06:03:00.000-04:002005-07-29T06:03:00.000-04:00Heheh:At 8:41 PM, Anonymous said...It says Embassy...Heheh:<BR/>At 8:41 PM, Anonymous said...<BR/><BR/>It says Embassy, not Consulate ;) there is one Embassy per Country, while Consulates are need based. E.g. Embassy is in Rome but consulate is in Milano, there is no Embassy in Milano :PAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736921.post-1122616717576625272005-07-29T01:58:00.000-04:002005-07-29T01:58:00.000-04:008:41 blogger, consulates and embassies are not the...8:41 blogger, consulates and embassies are not the same thing. Even if they were the fact that they are not located in the capital city doesn't make your case, because in no country there exist two separate embassies with two different groups of diplomates (like in Kosova case).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736921.post-1122615035350717112005-07-29T01:30:00.000-04:002005-07-29T01:30:00.000-04:00Me likes this very much.Me likes this very much.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736921.post-1122597696764081382005-07-28T20:41:00.000-04:002005-07-28T20:41:00.000-04:00Don't get excited too soon. Independence is not a ...Don't get excited too soon. Independence is not a done deal. With Serb provocations & some Kosovar knuckleheads, there is still plenty of time left to screw this up. In addition to an embassy in each country, the USA has permanent consulates in significant cities or regions of many countries; e.g. Toronto, Munich, Hong Kong, Rio De Janeiro, Istanbul, etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736921.post-1122590543130557702005-07-28T18:42:00.000-04:002005-07-28T18:42:00.000-04:00Of course.It's not the firs step, it's just one of...Of course.<BR/>It's not the firs step, it's just one of the steps. The first step was when Washington decided that Kosovo should become independent as soon as possible in March of 2004.<BR/>I would say the Republic of Kosova for now and then we could change it to the Northern Albanian Republic, or the Albanian republic of Dardania.<BR/>After we become independent we'll have all the time in the world to decide :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736921.post-1122577415547269712005-07-28T15:03:00.000-04:002005-07-28T15:03:00.000-04:00US Embassy of the Republic of Dardhania...sounds g...US Embassy of the Republic of Dardhania...sounds good…Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736921.post-1122571166764970072005-07-28T13:19:00.000-04:002005-07-28T13:19:00.000-04:00In what non-sovereign country did the US build an...In what non-sovereign country did the US build an embassy? This is the first step towards full recognition of Kosova as an independent state.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com