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11 diplomats have been appointed to open an embassy in countries recognizing Kosovo’s independence.
Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci announced Thursday [28 August 2008] the names of 11 persons appointed as "charge d'affaires" for the first batch of Kosovo embassies abroad.
Thaci said his government's decision began a period of establishing Kosovo's first diplomatic generation. "These people have the honor and responsibility to represent our country," said Thaci. In the first phase of diplomatic missions, Kosovo has decided to appoint "charge de affairs" positions and not ambassadors.
Avni Spahiu, director of Radio Kosovo, will be serving in Washington, while his colleague Sylejman Gashi, a veteran journalist for Radio Television of Kosovo, was appointed to serve in New York until Kosovo is recognized by the United Nations. The adviser to Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu, Muhamet Hamiti, will be appointed to London, and Professor Muhamedin Kullashi for Paris. Some less popular persons will be in charge of leading Kosovo's embassies in Ankara, Berlin, Bern, Brussels, Rome, Tirana and Vienna.
Thaci said the selection was a result of close consultations with national and international partners. According to Kosovo's constitution, President Fatmir Sejdiu must approve government's proposal, a move which is expected to happen within days.
Kosovo government sources said that hosting countries have already agreed for the names proposed to be sent as Kosovo's highest diplomats in the new embassies.
This is the first time Kosovo is sending its people to serve abroad. Earlier the Kosovo government allocated the money to buy premises in the ten countries.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on 17 February [2008] and has so far been recognized by 46 countries, including the United States and most EU members. Some countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Czech Republic and Albania have already named their ambassadors to Kosovo, and other countries that have recognized Kosovo are planning to do the same soon.
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