Deputy Chief of Mission Grunder’s Remarks at the RIT-Kosovo Commencement Ceremony, May 22, 2023 Thank you, Dr. Shahrabi, and thank you to the Rochester Institute of Technology in Kosovo for inviting me to the university’s 2023 commencement ceremony. Distinguished guests: RIT leadership, RIT Kosovo faculty and staff, proud friends, parents, and family members, and – …

Citizens, especially young people, have a vital role to play in countering disinformation. As youth get most of their information online, it is very important that they also have the tools to identify and confirm the veracity of information. Empowering youth to recognize and counter misinformation helps ensure a functional democracy. As young people turn …

Congratulations on completing your Pre-Service Training and I wish each of you a great two years of service. I look forward to visiting you in your communities soon and hearing about all the great things that you and your counterparts accomplish in the coming months.

I was in New York that fateful day in 2001, serving at our Mission to the United Nations. You can imagine our shock that any human being would devise such a despicable act, aiming to spread terror indiscriminately and kill as many as possible. In the moments, weeks, and months following the attack, we were …

Today we mark the end of an inspiring, innovative, and pioneering program, MFK’s Women in Energy activity. This 5-year program assisted Kosovo take initial steps to bridge the enormous gender gap in the energy sector here. Since 2019, although we’ve seen a new global energy economy emerging, transformation of the sector is still very much …

In Kosovo, poor air quality is among the most pressing concerns. And it affects our health and the environment on a daily basis. Pollution comes from human-made sources: emissions from old cars, toxic gases from industrial operations, coal-powered plants, burning wood or other material in the open air, and landfills. During the winter, air pollution …

Helping Kosovo to fight corruption and strengthen the rule of law in Kosovo are among the highest priorities for the United States government in our strong and deep relationship.  And we are not alone.  Today, Prime Minister Kurti, representatives of the Kosovo government, independent institutions, civil society and the private sector stand united, committed to …

The condition of waterways and wetlands in Kosovo must be a Kosovo-led priority. We all know that it is an acute one – I don’t need to explain that to you. Whether we are talking about preserving natural wonders like Mirusha and important habitats like Henci, or about the issue of hydropower, it is difficult, …

Let me start by saying the United States considers Kosovo a key partner in the fight against corruption. I would like to congratulate the Supreme Court on the adoption of yet another important document—the most recent Corruption Specific Guidelines. This is a significant step forward for the rule of law in Kosovo. I am particularly …

On behalf of the United States of America, I am honored to handover temperature scanners to the Government of Kosovo for placement at Kosovo’s port of entries, including where we are standing today, Pristina’s international airport. These scanners will assist Kosovo in preventing the further spread of COVID-19. Fighting a global pandemic takes all of …

Deputy Chief of Mission Nicholas J. Giacobbe Remarks for Holocaust Remembrance Day, January 27, 2020 Today is a solemn and momentous day—the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.  The United States continues to stand with the Jewish people in remembrance of the six million innocent Jews murdered in the Holocaust, along with many other …

But Kosovo’s future relies, in the end, on one factor alone—the commitment of its citizens to build that future.  That means you. And that is why I am glad to be here today, in a room full of people determined to build the future for Kosovo that all of its citizens deserve.  Tonight, we are …

Our new Embassy is a wonderful symbol of the enduring partnership between the people of Kosovo and the people of the United States.  I am also proud to say that it is a clear manifestation of our commitment to a greener Kosovo.  During its design and during its construction, we made environmentally-smart choices to incorporate …

As we look together toward the future, I challenge Kosovo and all nations, including my own, not to just legislate for victims’ rights and services, but to ensure our support is consistently and compassionately offered to victims when needed.

Hi, I’m Nick Giacobbe and I’m the Deputy Chief of Mission for the U.S. Embassy here in Kosovo. I’m excited to be working in such a vibrant city and such a beautiful country.

With U.S. Government assistance, through OPDAT and our other mechanisms, you have well trained victim advocates, who provide support in and outside the courtroom. You have an established victim compensation fund providing financial support to victims who qualify for that assistance.  And you are moving forward with plans to amend that law so more victims …

I really do believe there is no better partnership for Peace Corps than the one it has here in Kosovo.  You have the youngest population in Europe, and our seventy Volunteers, currently teaching in your schools and working within your communities, are speaking directly to the youth of Kosovo, and hopefully, inspiring them to improve …

This year Crime Victims’ Week is dedicated to raising awareness about family violence. Those two words, I think we can agree, do not belong together; family and violence. We all assume families will protect and support their members. That parents will nurture and care for their children. And that husbands will respect their wives. When …

We know that when corruption flourishes, the effects are felt disproportionately by women, so we need to redouble our efforts to make sure women’s voices are heard, and that women are no longer relegated to the sidelines of Kosovo’s political and economic life.

I encourage you to acknowledge the enormous body of work that came before you – and the efforts of your two predecessors as justice minister and all the civil servants in your ministry – to develop this project to this point.  I am impressed with the preparation your new team has made:  drafting a concept …

Today is the culmination of the hard work and perseverance of so many who believe in Kosovo’s future and in the power of the MCC to help Kosovo achieve its goals. 

Providing a safe and secure environment is a key component to improving the quality of life for all citizens. This requires law enforcement agencies to develop specialized training and constantly educate officers to fight crime and provide safety for the society. I believe the relationships you have developed here will greatly assist you in addressing …

Kosovo has made significant efforts to improve the treatment of victims of domestic violence and to prosecute offenders. You should be very proud of what you have achieved. I look forward to seeing Kosovo continue to be a regional leader on victim’s rights.

Ethics and anti-corruption efforts rely on individual choices as much as institutional efforts. We acknowledge that changes in practice and perception are hard, and will not happen overnight. But as Kosovo continues to take the tough but necessary steps to unlock its potential, the United States will be a steady partner. We believe in Kosovo’s …

DCM Colleen Hyland at Annual Conference of Prosecutors, January 28, 2017 Good morning. First, I want to let you know that the Ambassador really did want to be here this morning and unfortunately was called to other duties. So I am here to deliver to you the message that he wanted to give you. Thank you, …