press releases 2008

Representative Eliot Engel (D-NY) is leading a delegation to Kosovo, June 13-16, 2008

Representative Eliot Engel (D-NY) is leading a delegation to Kosovo, June 13-16, 2008. that includes Representative Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio). They will join the celebration of the Constitution coming into force, as well as meet with Kosovo government officials, visit Peja and tour the street named for Representative Engel, as well as see other sites in the vicinity. In Pristina, they will also visit the American University of Kosovo.  Representative Engel is a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Chair of the Albanian Issues Caucus.

Representative Engel has sent this statement to be conveyed to the citizens of Kosovo:

“I am so honored to be visiting the newly independent Republic of Kosova.  After struggling for so many years against the brutality of the Milosevic regime, seeing freedom and democracy in Kosova is of deep personal importance to me. 

“I look forward to joining with the people of Kosova as they celebrate the entry into force of their new Constitution, and respect how the new Republic recognizes and supports its multiethnic citizenry, and has embraced the Ahtisaari Plan.. 

“Now that Kosova is independent, I will redouble my efforts in Congress to promote a strong U.S.-Kosovar relationship and to encourage other countries to recognize the new republic as soon as possible.”