Senior American official visits Kosovo, meeting with Kurti Osman

Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy Elizabeth M. Allen will travel to the Balkans on an 8-day visit.

The US State Department announced it will go to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo and Northern Macedonia from 12-20 May “to deepen partnerships with Western Balkan countries and advance our common goals of regional co-operation and European integration”.

The Undersecretary Allen will highlight the fundamental democratic values we share with the people of the Western Balkans and the importance of working together to protect free societies and open from malicious influence”, the US State Department reports.

In Pristina, Kosovo, Deputy Secretary Allen will meet with Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti to discuss the US “support for Kosovo's path towards Euro-Atlantic integration and our partnership with Kosovo to fight foreign deinformation and the impact of Malaj”, the announcement said.

Undersecretary Allen will visit members of the US service deployed as part of the NATO Peacekeeping Mission (KFOR) in Camp Nothing Hill, underlining the United States' commitment to the stability and security of the region”, the UN reports.

In Kosovo, it will also hold discussions with various Kosovo students engaged in science, technology, engineering and mathematics at the Rochester Institute of Technological Kosova”.

It is reportedly going to Dresnic in Kline “to discover the mosaics of Roman times that archaeologists are restoring thanks to the State Department of Protection Ambassadors Fund's support for 48x1>.

Parasely, it will be in Belgrade, where, as the UN reports, it will discuss with Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric and other Serbian officials on opportunities to expand US-Serbia relations and “our common goal to accelerate Serbia's path towards EU membership”.

“to underline the critical importance of media freedom in democratic societies, Undersecretary Allen will participate in a panel discussion and present the annual awards of the Association of Independent Journalists of Serbia for investigative journalism. She and National Assembly Speaker Anna Brnabyq will visit the site of the future American Resources Centre in Loginica, which will enhance access to the arts, culture, education and resources of the American enterprise for Serbian youth”, the report says.

“It will also speak at the annual conference of the English Language Teachers' Association, the largest national network of English language teachers in Serbia, and will present the Impact Award honouring the 2024 winner. Before leaving Serbia, Undersecretary Allen will travel to Snjenica to address participants at the first summit of the Balkan Youth Leadership Programme (BOLD), a regional network of youth working in civic engagement and economic development projects to make a difference in their communities”, reports the UN.

Initially in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Allen will meet with students participating in the programme of the American Leadership, English and Democracy (LEAD) embassy to discuss their experiences in learning English and development of community service projects promoting common values.

There, Allen will also visit the Srebrenica Memorial Centre, where he will honour victims of genocide and meet with family members.

Its “travel will highlight how the United States is working with Bosnia and Herzegovina to ensure a democratic, comprehensive and prosperous future for all citizens”, the UN reports.

Finally, Deputy Secretary Allen will travel to Skopje, where he will meet with <x0-seconds of malevolent foreign influence”.

“In respect of the cultural diversity and rich heritage of northern Macedonia, Undersecretary Allen will visit an ancient Roman forum in Stobi, where US government support through the Fund of Culture Conservation Ambassadors helps preserve one of the most valuable archaeological sites in Northern Macedonia. While there, it will discuss with local partners the potential of the project to further enhance economic development, tourism and connections among people”, the report said.