The British Ambassador to Kosovo, Jonathan Hargreaves, has warned that the ongoing political deadlock is leaving Kosovo without a credible and unified voice in the international arena. In an interview with Radio Free Europe, he emphasized that the Constitutional Court must be respected and its rulings fully implemented.
Hargreaves stressed that the paralysis in institutions—from parliament to government and the presidency—blocks key priorities such as the national budget, reforms, and international commitments. According to him, this harms Kosovo’s people directly, as nearly €1 billion in grants and loans remain frozen due to the lack of a functioning assembly.
He called on all parties to allow the Constitutional Court to do its job and respect its decisions without hesitation. If no solution is found soon, he said, new elections remain an option, provided that local elections are conducted transparently and their results respected.
The ambassador also voiced concern over the slow progress in dialogue with Serbia, linking the delay to Kosovo’s institutional crisis and political developments in Belgrade. He underlined that figures such as Milan Radoičić and other perpetrators of the Banjska attack must face justice, as impunity “cannot continue.”
On the sensitive issue of integrating Serbian education and healthcare institutions, Hargreaves stated that the solution must remain within Kosovo’s legal framework, specifically through the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities (ASM).
Highlighting the broader picture, he reaffirmed the UK’s strong partnership with Kosovo since 1999, while urging leaders to show political courage, compromise, and responsibility to overcome the crisis and restore Kosovo’s credibility internationally.
Key Takeaways:
- Kosovo risks losing its international credibility without functioning institutions.
- The Constitutional Court’s rulings must be respected unconditionally.
- Delays in dialogue with Serbia hurt Kosovo’s strategic interests.
- Justice for the Banjska attack perpetrators is crucial.
- Integration of Serbian institutions should happen through the ASM framework.
