U.S. Congressman Michael Lawler has urged Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti to work toward political unity and encourage all political actors to return to negotiations in order to reach a consensus on the election of Kosovo’s next president.
In a letter to Kurti, Lawler, a member of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee and chairman of its Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, emphasized the importance of cooperation among Kosovo’s political parties, particularly following the September 16 verdict by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague.
“Especially in light of last week’s verdict in The Hague, there is no more important moment for Kosovo’s national unity than now. I urge you to work to ensure that all political actors return to negotiations in good faith and find the necessary consensus to elect the president,” Lawler wrote.
The U.S. congressman also highlighted the importance of institutional stability and maintaining a focus on Kosovo’s key priorities, including further strengthening its partnership with the United States.
Lawler, who has been a supporter of Kosovo in the U.S. Congress, congratulated Kurti on beginning his fourth term as prime minister and called for political actors to return to negotiations in good faith to elect a president and avoid another parliamentary election.
He also reiterated his support for Kosovo’s membership in NATO, saying that such a step would be significant not only for Kosovo’s long-term security but also for maintaining peace across the Western Balkans.
“Partly as a result of your work toward NATO membership, I see Kosovo on the right path toward becoming a strong democracy, with solid economic growth and shared prosperity. Government stability is key,” Lawler wrote.
He added that he hoped Kosovo would successfully elect a new president in the coming weeks in order to avoid another round of parliamentary elections, which he said would be the fourth in less than two years.
