President Vjosa Osmani, during her farewell meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeff Hovenier, presented him with a stone from Trepça.
Osmani described the gift as “a symbol of Kosovo’s free, independent, and indivisible land.” She noted that Hovenier had been dedicated to Kosovo’s mission for over two decades.
“A stone from Trepça, as a symbol of the free, independent, and indivisible land of Kosovo, a mission that Ambassador Hovenier has been committed to for more than two decades.”
At the same time, Osmani emphasized that the stone was also a symbol of continuing the tradition and legacy of President Ibrahim Rugova, who “laid the foundations of Kosovo’s statehood and the eternal friendship with the United States.”
Earlier in the day, Hovenier also spoke about his role in Kosovo and his connection to former President Rugova after he laid wreaths at Rugova’s statue with Osmani.
“Three years ago, almost exactly three years ago, in early January 2002, I arrived in this country. I presented my credentials to the President, and my first official public act was to join the President in placing a wreath here at the statue of former President Rugova. It seemed very fitting that my final official act as U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo would be to close this cycle by doing the same,” Hovenier said.
Hovenier shared that he had known Rugova when he was “a junior diplomat.”
“I had the pleasure of knowing him as a very young diplomat at the time and had great respect for him. That is why I am very proud and honored to be able to make this gesture as my final official act.”
In his final official event in Kosovo, Hovenier thanked the people of Kosovo.
“It has been the job of my dreams to serve as U.S. Ambassador here for these three years and to have had the opportunity to work together with the people of Kosovo to help advance the country.”
