Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, Liz Allen, is set to embark on a journey to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, and North Macedonia from May 12-20. The aim of this trip is to strengthen partnerships with Western Balkan countries and promote our mutual objectives of regional cooperation and European integration. During her visit, Under Secretary Allen will stress the shared democratic values between the United States and the people of the Western Balkans. She will also emphasize the importance of working collaboratively to safeguard free and open societies from harmful influences.
In Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Under Secretary Allen will engage with students participating in the embassy’s Leadership, English, and American Democracy (LEAD) program. She plans to discuss their experiences learning English and developing community service projects that foster shared values and interpersonal connections. Additionally, while in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Under Secretary Allen will pay a visit to the Srebrenica Memorial Center where she will honor genocide victims and meet with their family members. Her trip aims to underscore how the United States is collaborating with Bosnia and Herzegovina to ensure a democratic, inclusive, and prosperous future for all its citizens.
Following her visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Under Secretary Allen will travel to Belgrade, Serbia. Here she will explore opportunities to expand U.S.-Serbia relations as well as our mutual goal of accelerating Serbia's path towards EU membership with Foreign Minister Marko Djuric along with other senior government officials. To highlight the critical role media freedom plays in democratic societies, Under Secretary Allen will participate in a panel discussion and present the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia’s annual awards for investigative journalism.
In collaboration with Speaker of the National Assembly Ana Brnabic, she will visit the site of the future American Resource Center (American Space) at Ložionica. This initiative aims to broaden access to U.S. arts, culture, education, and entrepreneurship resources for Serbian youth. She will also deliver a speech at the annual conference of the English Language Teachers’ Association, the largest national network of English language teachers in Serbia, and present the Access Impact Award to honor the 2024 winner.
Before leaving Serbia, Under Secretary Allen will travel to Sjenica to address participants of the inaugural Balkan Youth Leadership Program (BOLD) Summit. This program is a regional network of young individuals working on civic engagement and economic development projects to make a difference in their communities.
In Pristina, Kosovo, Under Secretary Allen will meet with Kosovan President Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti to discuss U.S. support for Kosovo’s path towards Euro-Atlantic integration and our partnership with Kosovo to counter foreign disinformation and harmful influence. While in Kosovo, Under Secretary Allen will visit U.S. service members deployed as part of the NATO Kosovo Force Peacekeeping Mission (KFOR) at Camp Nothing Hill. This visit underscores the United States' commitment to maintaining stability and security in the region.
Under Secretary Allen will also engage in discussions with diverse Kosovan students enrolled in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics classes at Rochester Institute of Technology – Kosovo. She will journey to Dresnik to discover Roman-era mosaics that archeologists are restoring with support from the State Department’s Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation.
Lastly, Under Secretary Allen will travel to Skopje, North Macedonia where she plans to meet with experts on foreign harmful influence. In respect for cultural diversity and North Macedonia's rich heritage, Under Secretary Allen will visit an ancient Roman forum in Stobi. Here U.S. government support through the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation aids in preserving one of North Macedonia's most valued archeological sites. During her visit there, she plans to discuss with local partners how this project can further expand economic development, tourism, and interpersonal connections.
