The British Ambassador to Kosovo, Jonathan Hargreaves, has made a strong public appeal for the urgent formation of new institutions in Kosovo, warning that political delays may jeopardize the country’s Euro-Atlantic future.
In an opinion piece distributed to the media, Ambassador Hargreaves emphasized that Kosovo is at a critical political juncture, and that its leaders must take decisive, proactive action to ensure continued progress toward European Union and NATO integration.
“Time for Kosovo to Take Initiative”
Hargreaves called on political leaders from all parties to show determination and vision:
“Kosovo must take its destiny into its own hands, rather than remain dependent on the actions of external actors,” he said.
He encouraged Kosovo’s leaders to adopt a pragmatic approach, much like the evolving relationship between the UK and the EU, in order to speed up alignment with EU standards.
UK Supports Kosovo’s NATO Ambitions
The ambassador reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s strong support for Kosovo’s aspirations to join NATO – but emphasized that institutional readiness is a prerequisite:
“We want to see Kosovo in NATO, once its security forces and oversight mechanisms meet the required standards,” he stated.
He urged Kosovo to demonstrate active diplomacy and readiness to make difficult decisions, especially in the context of normalization talks with Serbia.
Council of Europe Membership Linked to Minority Rights
Hargreaves also addressed Kosovo’s bid for Council of Europe membership, linking it to the country’s treatment of non-majority communities:
“Kosovo’s impressive legal framework must be backed by genuine intent to protect minority communities. Only then can it convince member states to support its membership,” he warned.
