Former head of the OSCE Verification Mission in Kosovo and retired U.S. Ambassador William G. Walker has written to the leaders of Kosovo’s parliamentary political parties, proposing Faton “Tony” Bislimi as a candidate for president of Kosovo.
In his letter, Walker expressed concern over the prolonged political deadlock surrounding the election of the country’s next president and urged party leaders to consider Bislimi’s candidacy during their negotiations.
Walker described Bislimi as a potential consensus candidate, highlighting his international experience, strong academic background, communication skills and deep understanding of Kosovo’s state-building process.
He also emphasized that Bislimi does not represent partisan interests, presenting him as a figure who could potentially bridge political divisions during the ongoing negotiations.
“I have known Faton for many years. In my opinion, he possesses all the qualities necessary to be a successful president of Kosovo,” Walker wrote in the letter.
Bislimi currently lives and works in the United States.
Walker’s intervention comes as Kosovo’s political parties continue efforts to reach an agreement on the election of a new president, with the process remaining one of the country’s key institutional challenges.
