Actress Fran Drescher Kicks off International Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Pristina, October 7-9, 2008
American Public Diplomacy Envoy for Women's Health Issues Fran Drescher arrived in Kosovo on October 7 for a three-day visit as part of the Balkans Breast Cancer Initiative (BBCI), a regional medical diplomacy program supported actively by the U.S. Embassy. On October 7, Drescher, an actress known for her leading role in “The Nanny” comedy series, interviewed with ten different media outlets, including several Kosovo Serb outlets, and taped an introduction to the Embassy-funded, three-part documentary called "A World Without Cancer," which aired on Kosovo-wide broadcaster KTV on October 8. On the evening of her arrival, the Women’s Caucus of the Kosovo Assembly hosted a welcome reception where the Speaker of the Assembly, the Minister of Health, and the Ambassador all praised Drescher for her activism and underscored the importance of women’s health.
Drescher also held a question and answer session with members of the Women’s Caucus and met with young Serb women at the American Corner in north Mitrovica. While in Mitrovica, she met Mayor Bajram Rexhepi and the Secretary’s International Woman of Courage winner, Valdete Idrizi. She taped an interview with Serb-language TV Most and a segment for Familja Moderne, Kosovo’s most popular sitcom. Drescher also participated in a press conference promoting cancer awareness and the upcoming October 19 Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness. On her last day, October 9th, she participated in a “coffee talk” discussion with local women, NGO leaders and health professionals in an effort to raise awareness about early detection. She will end her stay in Kosovo with a visit to Camp Bondsteel, where she will meet with troops who are cancer survivors themselves or have been affected by cancer.
 |
Secretary Gates (left) with Kosovo leaders.
Photo: Nori Haxhibeqiri, Embassy Pristina |
U.S. Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates Visits Kosovo, October 7, 2008
As the first cabinet-level official to visit the Republic of Kosovo since its declaration of independence on February 17th, 2008, Secretary Gates congratulated Kosovo’s leaders and re-emphasized the U.S.’s commitment to all citizens of Kosovo. In a press conference for U.S. and local media, Secretary Gates highlighted the U.S.’s cooperation in building a Kosovo Security Force that is “a diverse, professional force with civilian oversight,” and assured Kosovo citizens that the U.S. intends to maintain its current troop levels. His trip to Kosovo included a visit with U.S. NATO troops in Kosovo to thank them for their service.
- CLICK HERE FOR FULL TRANSCRIPT -
PUBLIC OUTREACH
Regional Alumni Conference Addresses Development Priorities
 |
| Kosovo and Regional Alumni of USG Programs in Pristina Photo: Aferdita Krasniqi, Embassy Pristina. |
From October 3-5, over 60 USG exchange program alumni from Kosovo, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, Macedonia and Albania gathered in Pristina for a conference on “The Impact of Kosovo’s Final Status on Regional and EU Integration.” Organized by Kosovo U.S. Alumni (KUSA), the conference included three panel discussions addressing citizen participation in government decisions, taxation policies in economic development, fighting organized crime and facilitating regional cooperation. With their shared experience in the U.S. on State Department programs and their diverse professional and personal backgrounds, these motivated alumni forged important connections for future collaboration. The conference also included a reception and cultural visits for regional alumni to get to know KUSA members and to see Pristina. KUSA hopes to build more regional networks of alumni from all State Department exchange programs, both long-term programs like Fulbright and short-term exchanges like the International Visitor Leadership Program. Established in 2007, KUSA connects USG program alumni in Kosovo to each other and to the Embassy. Committed to serving its members and their work, KUSA is a new, important piece of Kosovo’s developing civil society.
For more information about KUSA, visit http://pristina.usembassy.gov/kusa.html
