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US diplomat David Kostelancik, one of the longest-serving figures in the State Department, has announced his retirement after 36 years of service. He was nominated twice by President Joe Biden to be ambassador to Albania, but never took office after the nomination was blocked in the Senate.
In a public message, Kostelancik recalled the main chapters of his career: from service in Turkey and Northern Iraq after the Gulf War, to the opening of the US embassy in Tirana where he was the first accredited diplomat, to assignments in Russia, NATO and the OSCE. He also mentioned important positions in Washington, including the National Security Council and the Counterterrorism Bureau.
However, Kostelancik did not hide his regret that he did not conclude his career as ambassador to Albania, a country he said he respects and believes in its future. “It was a great honor to be nominated as the U.S. Ambassador to Albania. I have the greatest respect for that nation and complete confidence in its future,” he said.
The deadlock in the Senate is not directly related to Albania, but to the political deadlock in Washington, where many Biden administration nominations have long been pending as part of the clash between Democrats and Republicans.
Full message
Today is my last day of work at the State Department.
It has been an honor and a privilege to serve, promote, and protect the interests of the American people as a Foreign Service officer for 36 years. To quote Teddy Roosevelt, I never imagined the reward I would find from working so hard in a job that is so worthwhile. The company of all of you has been the inspiration that has always kept me going. You are the ones who have encouraged me through challenging times. For that, I thank you one by one.
From service in Turkey (including in Northern Iraq after the First Gulf War as part of Operation Provide Comfort), to being the first officially appointed Foreign Service officer and the first political/economic officer at the newly opened US embassy in Albania, to service in Russia (initially as a special assistant to the ambassador during the first tour and then as a contributor to a then more productive relationship), to important work in NATO and the OSCE and three years at the US embassy in Hungary, including two years as chargé d'affaires, to service in Washington on the National Security Council, directing programs for Europe and Asia in the International Law Enforcement Bureau and in the European Bureau responsible for the Office of Russian Affairs, to service as a senior advisor to the State Department to the Congressional Helsinki Commission and as a foreign affairs advisor (POLAD) to the Chief of the Army General Staff, to the position of Deputy Coordinator in Counterterrorism Bureau – in all of this I have benefited from your wisdom, advice, and friendship.
And, it was a great honor to be nominated as U.S. Ambassador to Albania. I have the utmost respect for that nation and complete confidence in its future.
I close with Churchill's words, which I have repeated every time I have left behind a chapter of my career: 'Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.'
I wish you the courage to continue speaking out and striving for peace, justice, and truth. That is what I will do too.
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