United States Ambassador to Yugoslavia
Encyclopedia
The nation of Yugoslavia
was formed on December 1, 1918 as a result of the realignment of nations and national boundaries in Europe
in the aftermath of The Great War. The nation was first named the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and was renamed the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
in 1929. The kingdom occupied the area in the Balkans
comprising the present-day states of Bosnia and Herzegovina
, Serbia
, Montenegro
, Republic of Macedonia
, and most of present-day Slovenia
and Croatia
. The United States recognized
the newly formed nation and commissioned its first envoy to the kingdom on July 17, 1919. Previously the USA had had an envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary who was commissioned to Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia while resident in Bucharest
, Romania. Towards the end of the 1930s, the diplomatic relations between Belgrade and Washington were raised from ministerial to the ambassadorial level.
At the beginning of World War II
, the government of Yugoslavia fled Belgrade and formed a government in exile
in London
and later in Cairo
. During that time the U.S. ambassadors continued to represent the United States in London and Cairo. The embassy was transferred back to Belgrade in 1945.
Between 1943 and 1992 the nation was known by various names, including the Democratic Federation of Yugoslavia (1943), the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia (1946), and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1963).
After the breakup of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1992, the remnants of the nation, comprising the Republics of Serbia and Montenegro, renamed itself the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. On May 21, 1992, the United States announced that it did not recognize the Federal Republic. The ambassador had left Belgrade one week earlier. A series of chargés d’affaires represented the U.S. government until 1999, when the embassy was closed.
In 2001 the United States recognized the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and commissioned an ambassador to Belgrade.
In 2003 the parliament of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia ratified the Constitutional Charter, establishing a new state union and changing the name of the country from Yugoslavia to Serbia and Montenegro
. The U.S. ambassador continued in his post as the ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro.
For ambassadors to Serbia before and after Yugoslavia, see United States Ambassador to Serbia
.
Note: The United States announced on May 21, 1992, that it would not recognize the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, comprising the Republics of Serbia and Montenegro, as the successor to the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
Note: The following officers served as chargés d’affaires ad interim in Belgrade: Robert Rackmales (May 1992–July 1993), Rudolf V. Perina (July 1993–1996), Richard M. Miles (1996–1999). The embassy was closed March 23, 1999. Miles and the last Embassy personnel left March 24, and NATO armed forces began military action against Serbia-Montenegro that evening.
Note: The United States again recognized the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 2001 and posted an ambassador to that nation.
Montgomery was the last ambassador to the nation known as Yugoslavia. Hereafter ambassadors in Belgrade were commissioned to Serbia and Montenegro
and then to Serbia
. For subsequent ambassadors in Belgrade, see United States Ambassador to Serbia
.
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
was formed on December 1, 1918 as a result of the realignment of nations and national boundaries in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in the aftermath of The Great War. The nation was first named the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and was renamed the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
in 1929. The kingdom occupied the area in the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
comprising the present-day states of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
, Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
, Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
, and most of present-day Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
and Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. The United States recognized
Diplomatic recognition
Diplomatic recognition in international law is a unilateral political act with domestic and international legal consequences, whereby a state acknowledges an act or status of another state or government in control of a state...
the newly formed nation and commissioned its first envoy to the kingdom on July 17, 1919. Previously the USA had had an envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary who was commissioned to Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia while resident in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, Romania. Towards the end of the 1930s, the diplomatic relations between Belgrade and Washington were raised from ministerial to the ambassadorial level.
At the beginning of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the government of Yugoslavia fled Belgrade and formed a government in exile
Government in exile
A government in exile is a political group that claims to be a country's legitimate government, but for various reasons is unable to exercise its legal power, and instead resides in a foreign country. Governments in exile usually operate under the assumption that they will one day return to their...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and later in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
. During that time the U.S. ambassadors continued to represent the United States in London and Cairo. The embassy was transferred back to Belgrade in 1945.
Between 1943 and 1992 the nation was known by various names, including the Democratic Federation of Yugoslavia (1943), the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia (1946), and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1963).
After the breakup of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1992, the remnants of the nation, comprising the Republics of Serbia and Montenegro, renamed itself the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. On May 21, 1992, the United States announced that it did not recognize the Federal Republic. The ambassador had left Belgrade one week earlier. A series of chargés d’affaires represented the U.S. government until 1999, when the embassy was closed.
In 2001 the United States recognized the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and commissioned an ambassador to Belgrade.
In 2003 the parliament of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia ratified the Constitutional Charter, establishing a new state union and changing the name of the country from Yugoslavia to Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro was a country in southeastern Europe, formed from two former republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia : Serbia and Montenegro. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was established in 1992 as a federation called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
. The U.S. ambassador continued in his post as the ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro.
For ambassadors to Serbia before and after Yugoslavia, see United States Ambassador to Serbia
United States Ambassador to Serbia
This is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to Serbia.Serbia had been under the domination of the Ottoman Empire, Austria-Hungary, communist Yugoslavia and lastly Serbia-Montenegro Federation proclaiming independence on June 5, 2006....
.
Ambassadors
- H. Percival Dodge – Career FSO
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 17, 1919
- Presented credentials: October 5, 1919
- Terminated mission: Left post March 21, 1926
- John Dyneley PrinceJohn Dyneley PrinceJohn Dyneley Prince was an American linguist, diplomat, and politician. He was a professor at New York University and Columbia University, minister to Denmark and Yugoslavia, and leader of both houses of the New Jersey Legislature.-Early life:Prince was born in New York City in 1868, the son of...
– Political appointee- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: February 23, 1926
- Presented credentials: May 5, 1926
- Terminated mission: Left post August 31, 1932
- Charles S. Wilson – Career FSO
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: August 3, 1933
- Presented credentials: September 11, 1933
- Terminated mission: July 28, 1937
- Arthur Bliss LaneArthur Bliss LaneArthur Bliss Lane was the United States Ambassador to Poland .- Biography :Lane was born in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. He was appointed U.S. Minister to Nicaragua ; Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania ; Kingdom of Yugoslavia, ; and Costa Rica . He was then appointed U.S...
– Career FSO- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: August 9, 1937
- Presented credentials: October 23, 1937
- Terminated mission: Left post May 17, 1941
- Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, Jr.Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle, Jr.Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle, Jr. , also known as A. J. Drexel Biddle, Jr. or Tony Biddle, was a wealthy socialite who became a diplomat of the United States, and served in the United States Army during World War I and after World War II, reaching the rank of major general.-Biography:Biddle was the...
– Political appointee- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 30, 1941
- Presented credentials: October 3, 1941
- Terminated mission: Promoted to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary September 1942
- Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, Jr.Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle, Jr.Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle, Jr. , also known as A. J. Drexel Biddle, Jr. or Tony Biddle, was a wealthy socialite who became a diplomat of the United States, and served in the United States Army during World War I and after World War II, reaching the rank of major general.-Biography:Biddle was the...
– Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: September 29, 1942
- Presented credentials: November 3, 1942
- Terminated mission: September 28, 1943
- Lincoln MacVeaghLincoln MacVeaghLincoln MacVeagh was a distinguished United States soldier, diplomat, businessman, and archaeologist. He served a long career as the United States ambassador to several countries during difficult times.-MacVeagh family:...
– Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: November 12, 1943
- Presented credentials: December 9, 1943
- Terminated mission: March 11, 1944
- Richard C. Patterson, Jr. – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: September 21, 1944
- Presented credentials: November 17, 1944
- Terminated mission: Left Belgrade October 25, 1946
- Cavendish W. CannonCavendish W. CannonCavendish Wells Cannon was a long-time United States foreign service officer and diplomat.During World War II Cavendish served as the Assistant Chief of the State Department's Division of Southern European Affairs. For a time Cannon's work took him to Syria.He served as U.S...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: April 10, 1947
- Presented credentials: July 14, 1947
- Terminated mission: October 19, 1949
- George V. Allen – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: October 27, 1949
- Presented credentials: January 25, 1950
- Terminated mission: Left post March 11, 1953
- James W. Riddleberger – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 31, 1953
- Presented credentials: November 16, 1953
- Terminated mission: Left post January 11, 1958
- Karl L. RankinKarl L. Rankin- Background :Rankin was born September 4, 1898 to Emmet and Alberta Rankin in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. He would serve in the United States Navy during World War I and attended college at the California Institute of Technology, the Federal Polytechnic Institute in Zurich, Switzerland; and Princeton...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: December 13, 1957
- Presented credentials: February 19, 1958
- Terminated mission: Left post April 22, 1961
- George F. KennanGeorge F. KennanGeorge Frost Kennan was an American adviser, diplomat, political scientist and historian, best known as "the father of containment" and as a key figure in the emergence of the Cold War...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: March 7, 1961
- Presented credentials: May 16, 1961
- Terminated mission: Left Yugoslavia, July 28, 1963
- Charles Burke ElbrickCharles Burke ElbrickCharles Burke Elbrick, , was a United States diplomat and career foreign service officer. During his career, he served three ambassadorships in various parts of the world, in addition to many other minor postings.Elbrick was the son of Charles Elbrick and his Irish wife, Lillian Burke...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: January 29, 1964
- Presented credentials: March 17, 1964
- Terminated mission: Left post April 28, 1969
- William Leonhart – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: May 1, 1969
- Presented credentials: June 30, 1969
- Terminated mission: Left post October 18, 1971
- Malcolm ToonMalcolm ToonMalcolm Toon was an American diplomat. He graduated from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University in 1938, and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Toon was the ambassador to Czechoslovakia from 1969–1971, Yugoslavia from 1971–1975, Israel from 1975–1976, and the Soviet...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: October 7, 1971
- Presented credentials: October 23, 1971
- Terminated mission: Left post March 11, 1975
- Laurence H. SilbermanLaurence H. SilbermanLaurence Hirsch Silberman is a senior federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. He was appointed in October 1985 by Ronald Reagan and took senior status on November 1, 2000. He continues to serve on the court...
- Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: May 8, 1975
- Presented credentials: May 26, 1975
- Terminated mission: Left post December 26, 1976
- Lawrence S. EagleburgerLawrence EagleburgerLawrence Sidney Eagleburger was an American statesman and former career diplomat, who served briefly as the United States Secretary of State under President George H. W. Bush. Previously, he had served in lesser capacities under Presidents Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George H....
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: June 8, 1977
- Presented credentials: June 21, 1977
- Terminated mission: Left post January 24, 1981
- David Anderson – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 27, 1981
- Presented credentials: August 19, 1981
- Terminated mission: Left post June 26, 1985
- John Douglas Scanlan – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 12, 1985
- Presented credentials: July 26, 1985
- Terminated mission: Left post March 6, 1989
- Warren ZimmermannWarren ZimmermannWarren Zimmermann was a diplomat, humanitarian and the last US ambassador to Yugoslavia before its disintegration into civil war.-Background:...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 11, 1988
- Presented credentials: March 21, 1989
- Terminated mission: Recalled, May 12, 1992, left post May 16, 1992
Note: The United States announced on May 21, 1992, that it would not recognize the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, comprising the Republics of Serbia and Montenegro, as the successor to the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
Note: The following officers served as chargés d’affaires ad interim in Belgrade: Robert Rackmales (May 1992–July 1993), Rudolf V. Perina (July 1993–1996), Richard M. Miles (1996–1999). The embassy was closed March 23, 1999. Miles and the last Embassy personnel left March 24, and NATO armed forces began military action against Serbia-Montenegro that evening.
Note: The United States again recognized the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 2001 and posted an ambassador to that nation.
- William Dale Montgomery – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: November 26, 2001
- Presented credentials: January 4, 2002
- Terminated mission: February 29, 2004
Montgomery was the last ambassador to the nation known as Yugoslavia. Hereafter ambassadors in Belgrade were commissioned to Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro was a country in southeastern Europe, formed from two former republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia : Serbia and Montenegro. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was established in 1992 as a federation called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
and then to Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
. For subsequent ambassadors in Belgrade, see United States Ambassador to Serbia
United States Ambassador to Serbia
This is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to Serbia.Serbia had been under the domination of the Ottoman Empire, Austria-Hungary, communist Yugoslavia and lastly Serbia-Montenegro Federation proclaiming independence on June 5, 2006....
.
See also
- Socialist Federal Republic of YugoslaviaSocialist Federal Republic of YugoslaviaThe Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
- Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
- United States Ambassador to Bosnia and HerzegovinaUnited States Ambassador to Bosnia and HerzegovinaThis is a list of United States ambassadors to Bosnia and Herzegovina.The United States recognized the independence of Bosnia-Herzegovina on April 7, 1992, and announced the establishment of diplomatic relations August 6, 1992. A U.S. Embassy was established on November 10, 1993, on the premises of...
- United States Ambassador to CroatiaUnited States Ambassador to CroatiaThe diplomatic post of United States Ambassador to Croatia was created after the disbanding of Yugoslavia and the United States recognizing the new nation of Croatia on April 7, 1992.*Mara M. Letica – Career FSO**Appointed: August 1992...
- United States Ambassador to MacedoniaUnited States Ambassador to MacedoniaThe United States Ambassador to Macedonia is the official representative of the President of the United States to the head of state of the Republic of Macedonia....
- United States Ambassador to MontenegroUnited States Ambassador to MontenegroThis is a list of United States Ambassadors to Montenegro.*30-Oct-1905-27-Oct-1907 John B. Jackson, Resident at Athens*20-May-1908-29-Jun-1909 Richmond Pearson, Resident at Athens*31-May-1910-30-Sep-1912 George H...
- United States Ambassador to SerbiaUnited States Ambassador to SerbiaThis is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to Serbia.Serbia had been under the domination of the Ottoman Empire, Austria-Hungary, communist Yugoslavia and lastly Serbia-Montenegro Federation proclaiming independence on June 5, 2006....
- United States Ambassador to SloveniaUnited States Ambassador to SloveniaThe diplomatic post of United States Ambassador to Slovenia was created after the disbanding of Yugoslavia and the United States recognizing the new nation of Slovenia on April 7, 1992. In August of that year, the American Embassy in Ljubljana opened and E. Allan Wendt officially took over as...