Likely New US Diplomat for Eurasia ‘Gets Things Done’

Most notably, she served as the chief US envoy to Kosovo from July 2006-July 2009, during its historic transition from a breakaway territory of Serbia to a self-declared independent state.

Kaidanow’s first major position in government began under President Bill Clinton, where she served as director for Southeast European Affairs at the White House’s National Security Council. Subsequently she had assignments in Belgrade and Sarajevo.

Next, Kaidanow served as the special assistant to Christopher Hill when he was ambassador to Macedonia from 1998 to 1999, also during the Clinton presidency. Her duties at that time were centered on the crisis in Kosovo.

After that, she was special assistant for European affairs for Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage during President George W. Bush’s time in office.

In July 2006, Kaidanow was the chief of mission and charge d’affaires at the US Office in Pristina, which was to become the US Embassy to Kosovo. Two years later, following the independence declaration, she became the first US ambassador to Kosovo.

Kaidanow’s appointment to the European and Eurasian post will see her focusing on issues of US interest in the Caucasus, Central Asia and Southeast Europe. Energy issues and Georgia-Russia tensions can be expected to figure prominently in her work.