25th Anniversary of Kosovo’s Liberation: Reflections from Former USAID Chief

On the 25th anniversary of Kosovo’s liberation, Dale Pfeiffer, the former director of USAID in Kosovo, shared his reflections on the extraordinary efforts that helped build the nation from scratch. Pfeiffer emphasized the critical role played by USAID and other international donors in revitalizing a war-torn country.

Post-War Reconstruction

Pfeiffer recalled the immediate post-war period when everything necessary for the state’s functioning had to be built from the ground up. He noted that people had to rebuild their lives, find their families, and see if they were alive. Essential services like employment, banking, and basic infrastructure were nonexistent at that time.

“Everything was necessary; something had to be built for the state to function. People had to rebuild their lives, find their families, and see if they were alive. Everything had to be built from scratch. They needed jobs, banks to deposit their money; none of these things existed then. USAID worked with other donors to repair things as quickly as possible,” Pfeiffer said.

Adaptation and Collaboration

Pfeiffer highlighted the dedication and ability of Kosovars to adapt to the international community and work together to build a new state. “I have an impression that Kosovars have adapted to the international community, and together they have built Kosovo, and it was very impressive,” he remarked.

He also reminisced about the emotional moments when he first saw what freedom looked like in Pristina and the enthusiasm of people feeling free after decades of oppression. Pfeiffer had volunteered to come to Kosovo to offer his help, driven by a strong desire to assist the people of Kosovo following ethnic cleansings and wartime destruction.

Personal Commitment

“I saw that ethnic cleansing was happening, and I had an interest in Kosovo. A friend of mine worked at USAID, and I told him I had retired but came voluntarily to work to help Kosovo get back on its feet. He invited me and said you could go to Brussels and represent, but I wanted to come to Kosovo and help. And he invited me, and we prepared to open up after the bombings with equipment provided,” Pfeiffer recounted.

Journey to Pristina

Pfeiffer described their journey to Pristina after the bombings. “We got on a truck after the bombings ended and came to Pristina. In a restaurant, many people gathered; some were crying, some smiling. On the other side were armed Serbs, but they left,” he said.

Reflecting on Progress

In retrospect, Pfeiffer assessed Kosovo’s progress over the past 25 years, deeming it one of the most democratic countries in the world. “Kosovo is a young state, full of life, with potential but with problems. Honestly, I think a lot has been done; 20 years is a short time in history. I read a biography of Benjamin Franklin about the American Revolution, and after 25 years, America went through the same problems you are going through. Having a state that you start from scratch, you are achieving this quite well,” Pfeiffer concluded.

These reflections from Pfeiffer highlight the resilience and determination of the Kosovar people and the significant support from international partners in building a functioning, democratic state from the ruins of conflict.