San Diego, July 14, 2007

George W. Bush
The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

Permit me to invite your attention to the following:

I was pleased with the warm reception you received in Albania, on your recent trip there. Pleased, but not surprised, since Albanians everywhere - in Albania, Kosova and elsewhere - have traditionally nourished warm feelings of friendship toward America.

While in Tirana, you stated that America fully supports the demands of the Kosovars for independence, and I welcomed that. But I wish you had gone a step farther. You were in an ideal location to set a firm deadline for the recognition of Kosova by the United States. That would have been an act of statesmanship, which would have neatly cut the Gordian Knot that Kosova's status has become in recent weeks. I am convinced that further delay in cutting the Knot can only lead to doubts, instability and disorder in the region.

Respectfully yours,

Peter R. Prifti
4041 Ibis St., Apt. 912
San Diego, CA 92103

San Diego, July 15, 2007

Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of State
Department of State
2201 C St., NW
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Madam Secretary:

Permit me to invite your attention to the question of the recognition of Kosova as a sovereign and independent state in the Balkans.

Let me begin by noting that Albania is America's closest ally in the Balkans and Europe. The warm visit that President Bush was given in Albania last June demonstrated this fact beyond any doubt. Accordingly, Albanians in Albania, Kosova, and everywhere else in the world expect America to be the first nation in the world to recognize Kosova as a fully independent country.

Why has Washington failed to do so, especially in view of the fact that throughout last year, officials of the State Department assured the Kosovars that recognition would be granted by December, 2006? America's failure to act on that commitment became even more puzzling and disturbing, following Ahtisaari's recommendation early this year that Kosova be recognized promptly as a sovereign state.

To delay recognition in the hope of persuading Russia not to veto Kosova's recognition in the Security Council, does not make sense. It is not realistic, since Moscow has made it clear that it is adamantly opposed to recognition.

As things stand, America and United Europe have become hostages to Russia's position on Kosova. You are allowing a minority of one to dictate policy to a majority of the world's greatest powers. To accede to this state of affairs, is to encourage Moscow to blackmail us again and again in the future. It is not a bright prospect.

America performed a noble humanitarian deed when it freed the Kosovars from Serbian control and jurisdiction in 1999. Let us finish the job without further delay. It is time for Washington to set a date certain for recognition of Kosova, within the next several weeks, by Labor Day, at the latest!

I shall welcome your comments on this letter.
Respectfully yours,

Peter R. Prifti
4041 Ibis St., Apt. 912, San Diego, CA 92103

San Diego, July 16, 2007

Dr. Zalmay Khalilzad
U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN
New York, NY

Dear Dr. Khalilzad:

For over a year, and until recently, officials in our Department of State assured the leaders of Kosova that the United States would grant recognition to Kosova as an independent state, and be prompt about it. But that commitment was not honored. Even worse, Washington has changed position and now favors a delay in resolving the status of Kosova. This is truly shocking, as there are no reasonable grounds for delay, especially in view of the fact that Albanians are America's closest and most loyal friends in the Balkans and Europe.

It is obvious that our government has changed course to appease Serbia and her ally, Russia, who are bly opposed to the recognition of Kosova. Yet, Serbia's claim that it cannot let go of Kosova, because it is "sacred ground" to the Serbs, should not be an obstacle to recognition. I shall not debate the Serbian claim here, other than to say that it is not pertinent to the issue at hand.

Belgrade blundered badly when it rejected Marti Ahtisaari's findings and recommendations for resolving Kosova's status. Rather than attack the UN Envoy with abusive language, Serbia should have thanked him warmly, and embraced his proposal quickly. Ahtisaari went out of his way to give the Serbian people everything they need to be comfortable with an independent Kosova. The Serbs in Kosova will be safe, secure, and able to live normal lives in peace and freedom. They will still have their churches and monasteries to worship in, the same as in the past. They will be entitled to all the rights and privileges that Albanians and other ethnic groups will enjoy in a sovereign Kosova. And they will be free to cultivate economic, cultural and social relations with their fellow Serbs in Serbia proper, just as they have done before.

Hence, there is no reason for our country and our allies in Europe and elsewhere, to delay any longer the recognition of Kosova. The leaders of Kosova have been commendably patient all these years. It is not fair, nor politically judicious to try their patience indefinitely.

I look forward to the favor of a reply.
Respectfully yours,