[Commencement Address by Ambassador Robert Gosende, Practitioner of Public Diplomacy par excellence]
- Public diplomacy, Who is who in Digital and Public Diplomacy
- 26th May 2019
BIDD
Belgrade initiative 4 Digital and Public Diplomacy
Digital Diplomacy
Can digital diplomacy skills serve as public diplomacy resources? The case of Brexit
- Digital Diplomacy
- 24th June 2019
When evaluating the digitalization of public diplomacy, one can segment this process into two stages. The first stage lasted from circa 2007 to 2014. It was during this stage that diplomats and diplomatic institutions began to experiment with digital technologies. In 2007 the Swedish Institute launched one of the world’s first virtual embassies. In 2011 the UK Foreign Secretary held one of the world’s first live Twitter Q&A sessions while in 2012 the White House live tweeted a state visit by British Prime Minister David Cameron. It was during this stage that diplomats sought to leverage digital technologies toward engaging with digital publics and fostering relationships with foreign populations.
The first stage of public diplomacy’s digitalization came to an abrupt end in 2014 as Russian special forces crossed the border into Eastern Ukraine. The Crimean Crisis was not just a diplomatic crisis that ruptured relations between Western nations and Russia. It was also a digital crisis wh..
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State Department establishing new IT governance body
- Cyber, Digital Diplomacy, E Government, World
- 21st June 2019
At the secretary of State’s direction, McGuigan convened a Digital Diplomacy Council that includes all IT leaders and projects throughout the department. It will first address cybersecurity reliability and then enterprise architecture.
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Twitter Diplomacy
- Digital Diplomacy
- 29th May 2019
Zubeida Mustafa | Viewpoint | May issue, Published 9 hours ago, newslinemagazine.com; see also, “Twittering; or, Where are the Emily Dickinsons at the State Department?,” Huffpost, 07/20/2009
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The battle of tweets we have been witnessing of late, reminds us that we have certainly come a long way from the style in which diplomacy was conducted since 1648. That was the year when the Peace of Westphalia launched the modern secular sovereign state system. It introduced new guidelines for states in their dealings with one another. They demanded “accuracy, calm, patience, good temper, modesty” from an ideal diplomat, as defined by Harold Nicolson, the British diplomat famous for his books and diaries.
Donald Trump’s twitter page in Washington, DC using a
Game of Thrones-styled montage. In April 2019 the
US President tweeted “Game Over” declaring himself fully vindicated
in the
investigation into
Russian election meddling and alleged collusion in the 2016
presidential elections.With the ad..
Welcome to the New State.gov!
- "Classic " Diplomacy, Digital Diplomacy, Public diplomacy
- 26th May 2019
People from around the world rely on State.gov as a primary resource for information on U.S. foreign policy. With you in mind, we’ve completely modernized the site to deliver a better experience. It’s our goal to make it easier for you to find what you need and to show how diplomacy benefits the lives of
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Public Diplomacy
Some thoughts on public diplomacy, social media, and data
- 23rd June 2019
As someone who has worked in public diplomacy since 2011, I do not remember a time when public diplomacy did not also mean digital diplomacy and, consequently, some manner of data diplomacy. From the beginning, the data we gleaned from social media was heavily dependent on what the social media platforms were willing to provide us with. In terms of data storage and data analytics, institutions need to put a great deal of trust in the data that social media platforms provide. Here are three issues which are crucial for institutions when working with social media and data sets:
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Ursula Wyss
How Diplomats Can Combat Digital Propaganda
- 22nd June 2019
James Pamment has written that for most of the 20th century the term public diplomacy was associated with the term propaganda. According to the Oxford Dictionary propaganda relates to information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view. During the 21st century, the field of public diplomacy faced a conceptual shift known as the “new” public diplomacy. This shift saw the goals of public diplomacy change from influence and opinion formation to creating long lasting relationships with foreign populations. These relationships, built on dialogue and two way interactions, could be used to create a receptive environment for a country’s foreign policy.
Digitalization promised to facilitate the transition towards the “new” public diplomacy and away from propaganda as digital platforms could be used to converse and create relationships with foreign publics. Social media were especially seen as beneficial to the “new” public diplomacy as t..
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Diplo Portal Belgrade
- Guidance: Serbia – Consular FeesCost of consular services in Serbia. The post Guidance: Serbia – Consular Fees appeared first on Diplomatic portal.
- Visite de la Première ministre Ana Brnabic à ParisLa Première ministre Ana Brnabic s'est rendue à Paris pour deux jours, au cours de laquelle elle a notamment rencontré le Premier ministre Edouard Philippe et le Président du Sénat, Gérard Larcher. - Visites officielles / Source : La France en Serbie (https://rs.ambafrance.org) The post Visite de la Première ministre Ana Brnabic à Paris appeared […]
- Премьера монооперы М. Таривердиева «Ожидание» состоялась в Сербии21 июня в Российском центре науки и культуры «Русском Доме» в Белграде состоялась премьерная постановка монооперы М. Таривердиева «Ожидание» по поэме Р. Рождественского. В постановке Владана Джурковича приняли участие молодые талантливые студенты белградского Факультета музыкального искусства и солистка Наташа Йовович, а в качестве руководителя проекта выступила Людмила Гросс Попович. В рамках тесного взаимодействия с Факультетом […]
Who is who?
Diplo Germany
- Incredible India, the International Yoga Day in Amsterdam 23rd June 2019Many yoga enthusiasts came together to celebrate the largest ever International Yoga Day, held this time in the Dam Square of Amsterdam organized by the Embassy of India to the Netherlands The historical Dam Square Amsterdam was witness to the largest ever yoga celebrations in the Netherlands on Sunday, June 16. A great multitude of […]Editor
- Cameroon National Day 2019 22nd June 2019In the picture Mrs. Fonda Haga Halima, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of Cameroon, Conlonel H. R. Bidja & H.E. Mrs. Odette Melono, Deputy Director General of OPCW. By Roy Lie Tjam. The Hague, Mrs Fonda Haga Halima, Charge d’ Affaires a.i. of the Republic of Cameroon, organized a reception on Friday 24 May 2019 to celebrate […]Editor
- Dutch American Friendship Day 21st June 2019Text and pictures by John Dunkelgrün. On May 17th the Embassy of The United States and the O.A.R. (Overseas Americans Remember) hosted a reception to celebrate the 227th anniversary of the Dutch recognition of The United States. The Republic of the Seven United Netherlands was the first state to do so and thus the American-Dutch […]Editor
Kosovo: What Everyone Really Needs To Know
Au Kosovo, les Serbes font de la résistance GRAND REPORTAGE
Vingt ans après la guerre du Kosovo, 100.000 Serbes orthodoxes vivent toujours dans l’ex-province yougoslave, autoproclamée indépendante en 2008.
Solution
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections Solution Finally, the optimal solution for the Kosovo status is a “normal” autonomy within Serbia according to the international standards of protection of the rights of ethnic minorities but without any political-administrative prerogatives as it was the case in the SFRY from 1974 to 1989.
32. The best and most democratic solution of the Kosovo knot is to recognize Kosovo’s self-proclaimed independence from Serbia
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 32. The best and most democratic solution of the Kosovo knot is to recognize Kosovo’s self-proclaimed independence from Serbia Wrong. This is the worst solution of all possible combinations which already directly provoked a chain reaction by numerous separatist movements around the world. The first
31. After the war, KosMet was occupied by the international community, sanctioned by the UN (KFOR) for the fundamental purpose to prevent violence between the Albanian majority and the Serb minority
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 31. After the war, KosMet was occupied by the international community, sanctioned by the UN (KFOR) for the fundamental purpose to prevent violence between the Albanian majority and the Serb minority Wrong. KosMet was, in fact, occupied after the Kosovo War not by “international
30. During the 1998−1999 Kosovo War, Serb army and police units did not fight only the rebellious Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), but also carried out programmes of ethnic cleansing and, therefore, the US-led NATO was obliged first to act and then to continue military actions against Serbia and Montenegro for the sake to prevent human (Albanian) catastrophe
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 30. During the 1998−1999 Kosovo War, Serb army and police units did not fight only the rebellious Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), but also carried out programmes of ethnic cleansing and, therefore, the US-led NATO was obliged first to act and then to continue military actions
29. The Kosovo War started in 1998 by ethnic Albanian revolt for the reason that Serbia oppressed KosMet’s Albanian rights as did not recognize elections in 1998
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 29. The Kosovo War started in 1998 by ethnic Albanian revolt for the reason that Serbia oppressed KosMet’s Albanian rights as did not recognize elections in 1998 Wrong. The war started at the very beginning of 1998 as a consequence of Albanian-led terrorism actions against
28. The KosMet’s autonomy was cancelled by S. Milošević in 1989 and, therefore, Albanians lost their minority rights
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 28. The KosMet’s autonomy was cancelled by S. Milošević in 1989 and, therefore, Albanians lost their minority rights Wrong. The autonomy was not canceled as it was just reduced from the political independence to the national-cultural rights in order to prevent further separation of
27. Serbian minority in KosMet had decreased from around 30% in 1946 to 10% in 1991, as a result of higher Albanian birth rates and Serbian emigration to Central and North Serbia
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 27. Serbian minority in KosMet had decreased from around 30% in 1946 to 10% in 1991, as a result of higher Albanian birth rates and Serbian emigration to Central and North Serbia Wrong. The last reliable population census in KosMet is of 1961 as censuses
26. Soon after the death of Josip Broz Tito (May 1980), Kosovo’s Albanian population staged a series of public protests against continued discrimination
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 26. Soon after the death of Josip Broz Tito (May 1980), Kosovo’s Albanian population staged a series of public protests against continued discrimination Wrong. After the death of a Yugoslav dictator Josip Broz Tito (1982−1980), who was of the Slovenian-Croatian origin and who was supporting
25. Kosovo’s prospects improved with the dismissal of the hardline Minister of the Interior of Yugoslav federal government in 1966, Aleksandar M. Rankovic, and its distinctiveness was recognized in the new constitution in 1974, which gave Kosovo an autonomous status
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 25. Kosovo’s prospects improved with the dismissal of the hardline Minister of the Interior of Yugoslav federal government in 1966, Aleksandar M. Rankovic, and its distinctiveness was recognized in the new constitution in 1974, which gave Kosovo an autonomous status Wrong. By dismissal of Aleksandar
24. Kosovo’s Albanians were repressed after WWII under the Serb-dominated secret police
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 24. Kosovo’s Albanians were repressed after WWII under the Serb-dominated secret police Wrong. After the WWII the Yugoslav authorities forbade by the law to all expelled Kosovo’s Serbs (100.000) during the WWII, when KosMet was a part of Mussolini/Hitler’s established Greater Albania, to return back
23. Kosovo was occupied by Serbia before WWI
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 23. Kosovo was occupied by Serbia before WWI Wrong. This is the biggest falsification of historical truth followed by a dirty political propaganda by the West. Serbia simply liberated her own land during the First Balkan War in 1912−1913 that was occupied by the Ottoman
22. Kosovo is the site where the Albanian national hero Skanderbeg held back the armies of the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 22. Kosovo is the site where the Albanian national hero Skanderbeg held back the armies of the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century Wrong. Skanderbeg (George Kastriot Skanderbeg) was not of the Albanian origin but of the Serb. His family coat of arms, that is
21. Kosovo is a disputed territory claimed by Serbia and Albania, which both nationalities regard as central to their cultural identity
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 21. Kosovo is a disputed territory claimed by Serbia and Albania, which both nationalities regard as central to their cultural identity Wrong. Kosovo is not disputed land between Serbia and Albania as Albania’s officials never officially claimed this province to be included into Albania. It
20. It is the duty of the international community to help the Albanian issue settled down
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 20. It is the duty of the international community to help the Albanian issue settled down Wrong. The international community does not comprehend the nature of the problem, for good reason, since it is not a political one, but a clash between a Middle Age
19. Former Yugoslavia disintegrated because of Slobodan Miloshevic
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 19. Former Yugoslavia disintegrated because of Slobodan Miloshevic Wrong. His political (sic) manners only provided an excuse to Slovenia and Croatia for leaving Yugoslavia. The real rationale for this understandable decision was to leave the state that was burdened with the time bomb called KosMet,
18. It was Slobodan Miloshevic who was to blame for the NATO’s intervention in 1999
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 18. It was Slobodan Miloshevic who was to blame for the NATO’s intervention in 1999 Wrong. It was a responsibility of the government of Serbia to protect the interest of the state of Yugoslavia (the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia – Serbia and Montenegro), in face
17. The rationale for American interference into Albanian issue is a humanitarian concern for human rights in the area
test
16. Americans are siding with Albanians in the current Balkan affairs
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 16. Americans are siding with Albanians in the current Balkan affairs Wrong. They are directly involved, at all levels, from financing, organizing, training, arms supplying, diplomatic supports, etc. Training camps at North Albania, KosMet, and Macedonia are lead by American instructors, who are engaged even
15. The KFOR holds control at KosMet and helps the region reestablish the order and law
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 15. The KFOR holds control at KosMet and helps the region reestablish the order and law Wrong. It has no control whatsoever over the local population, in particular the irregulars of the KLA, turned into mock police forces. The whole region, y compris North Albania
14. The „blood feud“ has been extinguished among Albanians
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 14. The „blood feud“ has been extinguished among Albanians Wrong. It was much reduced during the communist regimes in the area (Albania, Montenegro, KosMet), but has been revived after the “democratic governments” have taken power in Albania. It is widely spread at KosMet, despite the
13. Shqipetars used to be friendly with their neighbors. They were protecting Orthodox monasteries there
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 13. Shqipetars used to be friendly with their neighbors. They were protecting Orthodox monasteries there Wrong. After the World War II, more than 250.000 non-Shqipetars moved from KosMet due to the “demographic pressure”, not to mention violence. After NATO’s “humanitarian intervention” in 1999 at least
12. The rebellion and protests in South-East Serbia at Preshevo valley is due to Belgrade repression on the Shqipetar population there
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 12. The rebellion and protests in South-East Serbia at Preshevo valley is due to Belgrade repression on the Shqipetar population there Wrong. This region was not included into the KosMet (autonomous) region after the WWII, for the simple reason that Shqipetars were a tiny minority
11. Albanians are autochthonous Balkan population descending from the ancient Balkan Illyrian tribes
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 11. Albanians are autochthonous Balkan population descending from the ancient Balkan Illyrian tribes Wrong. They appear in the mid-11th century in the Balkan history and their origin appears uncertain (most probably they came to the Balkans from the Caucasus Albania via Sicily, according to one
10. There is no such an entity as a Greater Albania
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 10. There is no such an entity as a Greater Albania Wrong. Although they are not publicized, the maps of that projected unified national state of all Albanians do appear occasionally in the Western press, either explicitly, or as the region with a predominant Albanian
9. KosMet used to be economically supported by the rest of former Yugoslavia
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 9. KosMet used to be economically supported by the rest of former Yugoslavia Wrong. Since Serbia’s contribution to the Yugoslav Federal Fund for the undeveloped regions matched exactly the amount donated by the Fund to KosMet, it was, in fact, Serbia which helped KosMet to
8. The expulsion of Serbs from KosMet after June 1999 is an act of retaliation
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 8. The expulsion of Serbs from KosMet after June 1999 is an act of retaliation Wrong. The process of Shqipetar’s committed ethnic cleansing of KosMet goes on for the last century and refers to all non-Shqipetars (Roma, Turks, Croats, etc). It is a clear case
7. The aim of Shqipetars is an independent Kosova
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 7. The aim of Shqipetars is an independent Kosova Wrong. It is a common goal of all Albanians to live in a single (unified) national state of (a Greater) Albania. The political program of a Greater Albania is designed in 1878 by the Albanian First
5. Shqipetars are an autochthonous population at KosMet
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 5. Shqipetars are an autochthonous population at KosMet Wrong. In the Middle Ages, KosMet was the central part of Serbian state, culture, and civilization. Shqipetars were a tiny minority (about 2%, according to the Ottoman census in 1455), nomadic herdsmen mostly. They came to KosMet
4. Ethnic Albanians at KosMet (Shqipetars in the following, as they call themselves) constitute a majority of 90% out of total KosMet’s population
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 4. Ethnic Albanians at KosMet (Shqipetars in the following, as they call themselves) constitute a majority of 90% out of total KosMet’s population Wrong. In the last reliable census carried out at KosMet in 1961, Shqipetars constituted 67% of the overall population, with (predominantly) Serbs
3. Southern Serbia’s province is called Kosovo
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 3. Southern Serbia’s province is called Kosovo Wrong. It is Kosovo and Metohia, abbreviated KosMet. Kosovo itself is an abbreviation of Kosovo Polje, what in the Serbian language means Blackbird Field (in German Amselfeld). Metohia is a corrupted Greek name for Metohi, meaning dependency to
2. The issue is a fight of Albanians for their rights
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 2. The issue is a fight of Albanians for their rights Wrong: The crux of the matter lies at the biological level. The real rationale is a demographic explosion which is going on within the Albanian population for a century or so (rate of growth
1. Kosovo issue is a conflict between ethnic Albanians and ethnic Serbs over the territory
Basic Western misconceptions on the Kosovo issue and their corrections 1. Kosovo issue is a conflict between ethnic Albanians and ethnic Serbs over the territory Wrong: It is a part of the conflict between Balkan Albanians and the surrounding populations, in Montenegro, Serbia, Macedonia, and Greece (for instance, clashes between Albanians and Macedonians in Macedonia
Kosovo: What Everyone Really Needs To Know
Kosovo is today one of the most disputed territories in Europe and a real Balkan powder keg which can explode again at any time. It is a province within the Republic of Serbia, recognized as such by both Serbia’s constitution and the Resolution 1244 by the Security Council of the United Nations (the UNSC Resolution
Catalog of Destroyed and Desecrated Churches in Kosovo ( VIDEO )
Catalog of Destroyed and Desecrated Churches in Kosovo Contents: A)NAME AND LOCATION OF THE CHURCH; B) EIGHT PHASES OF DESTRUCTION ( I Shell-shocked monuments; II Looting of movable treasure; III Desecrating shrines; IV Burning of shrines and adjacent buildings; V First mining; VI Mining of the left-overs; VII Removing of the remains; VIII Terrain clearance
Humanitarian Intervention: Advantages and Disadvantages in East Timor and Kosovo
NATO’s intervention in Kosovo in 1999 exemplifies many of these disadvantages, including the risks of causing civilian casualties, exacerbating ethnic tensions and increasing violence