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06/15/00 Text: State Department Issues Travel Warning for Serbia-Montenegro (Security situation remains unstable) The State Department issued a travel warning June 9 in response to the unstable security situation in the Serbia and Kosovo regions of Serbia-Montenegro: SERBIA-MONTENEGRO - TRAVEL WARNING The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to the Serbia and Kosovo regions of Serbia-Montenegro. Persons considering travel to Montenegro should be aware of the serious conditions described below. The U.S. Embassy in Belgrade suspended operations as of March 23, 1999. There currently is no U.S. diplomatic presence in Serbia or Montenegro to provide up-to-date security assessments or consular assistance to U.S. citizens. The U.S. Office in Pristina, Kosovo, which was established in October 1999, is not staffed to provide consular services to U.S. citizens. In Serbia, there is a potential for hostility towards U.S. citizens by both government officials and ordinary Serbian citizens, following the end of the conflict between members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Serbian forces. Other hazards include damaged infrastructure and unexploded ordnance scattered throughout the country. Protests against the Federal and Serbian governments have been taking place throughout Serbia and, while state security forces thus far have demonstrated restraint, the potential for violence exists. The situation in Kosovo remains unsettled and potentially dangerous. Despite the deployment of Kosovo Force (KFOR) troops throughout the province, and United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) attempts to re-establish civil authority, some civil institutions in Kosovo, including the criminal justice system, are not fully functioning. Incidents of violence in Kosovo continue to be reported, and landmines remain in some areas. Road conditions can be extremely hazardous as roads are narrow, crowded, and used by a variety of vehicles, from KFOR armored personnel carriers to horse drawn carts. The unreliability of phones, electric and water systems remains a problem. Travel by official Americans to and within Kosovo, particularly to areas that have experienced recent ethnic violence, is subject to restrictions. The situation in Montenegro is generally more stable than in Serbia, particularly in the coastal regions and the capital, Podgorica. However, the government in Belgrade is engaged in an aggressive anti-American propaganda campaign, including baseless accusations that U.S. diplomats had a role in political killings in Serbia-Montenegro. American citizens should consider Belgrade's increasingly hostile attitude toward U.S. Government officials as a security factor regarding travel to Serbia or Montenegro. Americans who are considering travel to Montenegro should also recognize the unavailability of consular assistance, exercise a high degree of caution and avoid any travel in the northern areas of Montenegro near the border with Serbia. American citizens should be aware that, while Montenegrin authorities have declared visas unnecessary for travel to Montenegro, Yugoslav authorities do not recognize this declaration. The Department of State strongly advises American citizens not to attempt travel to Serbia from Montenegro without a valid Yugoslav visa. This replaces the Travel Warning dated April 24, 2000, to update the security situation in Serbia-Montenegro, including Kosovo, and to add information concerning Belgrade's campaign of anti-American propaganda. SERBIA-MONTENEGRO - CONSULAR INFORMATION SHEET June 14, 2000 TRAVEL WARNING (Issued on June 9, 2000): The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to the Serbia and Kosovo regions of Serbia-Montenegro. Persons considering travel to Montenegro should be aware of the serious conditions described below. The U.S. Embassy in Belgrade suspended operations as of March 23, 1999. There currently is no U.S. diplomatic presence in Serbia or Montenegro to provide up-to-date security assessments or consular assistance to U.S. citizens. The U.S. Office in Pristina, Kosovo, which was established in October, 1999, is not staffed to provide consular services to U.S. citizens. In Serbia, there is a potential for hostility towards U.S. citizens by both government officials and ordinary Serbian citizens, following the end of the conflict between members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Serbian forces. Other hazards include damaged infrastructure and unexploded ordnance scattered throughout the country. Protests against the Federal and Serbian governments have been taking place throughout Serbia and, while state security forces thus far have demonstrated restraint, the potential for violence exists. The situation in Kosovo remains unsettled and potentially dangerous. Despite the deployment of Kosovo Force (KFOR) troops throughout the province, and United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) attempts to re-establish civil authority, some civil institutions in Kosovo, including the criminal justice system, are not fully functioning. Incidents of violence in Kosovo continue to be reported, and land mines remain in some areas. Road conditions can be extremely hazardous as roads are narrow, crowded, and used by a variety of vehicles, from KFOR armored personnel carriers to horse drawn carts. The unreliability of phones, electric and water systems remains a problem. Travel by official Americans to and within Kosovo, particularly to areas that have experienced recent ethnic violence, is subject to restrictions. The situation in Montenegro is generally more stable than in Serbia, particularly in the coastal regions and the capital, Podgorica. However, the government in Belgrade is engaged in an aggressive anti-American propaganda campaign, including baseless accusations that U.S. diplomats had a role in political killings in Serbia-Montenegro. American citizens should consider Belgrade's increasingly hostile attitude toward U.S. Government officials as a security factor regarding travel to Serbia or Montenegro. Americans who are considering travel to Montenegro should also recognize the unavailability of consular assistance, exercise a high degree of caution and avoid any travel in the northern areas of Montenegro near the border with Serbia. American citizens should be aware that, while Montenegrin authorities have declared visas unnecessary for travel to Montenegro, Yugoslav authorities do not recognize this declaration. The Department of State strongly advises American citizens not to attempt travel to Serbia from Montenegro without a valid Yugoslav visa. REGISTRATION AND EMBASSY LOCATION: Since the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade suspended operations as of March 23, 1999, U.S. citizens who plan on travelling to Serbia-Montenegro despite this Travel Warning are encouraged to register at the U.S. Embassy in Budapest, Hungary, which is located at Szabadsag Ter 12, Budapest 1054; telephone [36] (1) 475-4400. U.S. citizens who plan on travelling to Kosovo should register at the U.S. office in Pristina by telephone (873-762-029-525). However, the U.S. office in Pristina cannot provide general consular services such as passport and visa issuance. This replaces the consular information sheet for Serbia-Montenegro, dated May 5, 2000, to include the updated travel warning. (end text)
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