http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080223/FOREIGN/30869243/1003
“U.S. diplomats, relatives told to exit country”
By David R. Sands
February 23, 2008
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “The State Department yesterday ordered all nonessential U.S. diplomatic personnel and relatives to leave Serbia and placed embassies around the Balkans on high security alert following the sacking Thursday of the American Embassy in Belgrade.”
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “But even as Serbian leaders tried to restrain passions over Kosovo, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Washington and key European capitals should have expected the fierce reaction to Kosovo’s independence declaration. Mr. Putin, who has strongly backed Belgrade’s claims to Kosovo, called the split a “terrible precedent” that will come back to haunt the West.
“They have not thought through the results of what they are doing,” Mr. Putin told reporters in Moscow. “At the end of the day, [Kosovo] is a two-ended stick and the second end will come back and hit them in the face.””
Note: The following text is a quote:
https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=80218
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Warden Message: Non-Essential Personnel Depart U.S. Embassy Belgrade
CONSULAR AFFAIRS BULLETINS
Europe - Serbia
23 Feb 2008
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U.S. Embassy Belgrade released the following Warden Message on February 23:
The U.S. Embassy in Belgrade has ordered the temporary departure for non-essential American staff and all family members due to concern about the safety situation.
The Embassy building will be reopened to the public when sufficient repairs to the building have been completed that will ensure the safety and security of Embassy staff, and as soon as the security situation permits.
The U.S. Embassy convoy departed Belgrade on February 23. The Nikola Tesla airport in Belgrade continues to provide regular service on commercial carriers. Those concerned for the safety of U.S. Citizens in Serbia or with an after-hours emergency should call 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.
U.S. citizens in Serbia are encouraged to register through the State Department’s travel registration web site at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/ so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate or by calling the numbers above. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.
For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts, and Travel Warnings can be found.
The U.S. Embassy in Belgrade is located at 50 Kneza Milosa Street. The Embassy website is http://belgrade.usembassy.gov.