My dreams for Kosovo

After three years of work and productivity in Kosovo, I am grateful that I had the chance to serve my country in its partnership with your country. I am leaving here with feelings of hope, yet I have to say that Kosovo is at a critical crossroads and must make bold solutions to promote its economic growth, continue to achieve in the rule of law and draw closer to European integration. Kosovo's abundant potential could contribute to the bright future if leaders make the solutions necessary.

During my time here Kosovo's economy has continued to grow: debt is manageable, the budget is balanced and public revenues are growing. Local businesses are benefiting from improving the business environment, driven by greater access to loans, simplified regulations and better market ties. These positive steps are reflected in Kosovo's climb to 40th place of the World Bank Doing Business “report.

Over the past five years Kosovo businesses have increased export to 37 percent, improving Kosovo's image abroad, especially in Europe. I am encouraged to see businesses from all over Kosovo co-operating under the brand “produced in Kosovo” with great benefits, such as the company of a Serb from northern Kosovo working with Kosovo Albanian companies in the south for production and export of timber products. Kosovo must continue to make these stories of normal success. In the agriculture sector, farmers, including farmers, are earning more income as a result of the export of products such as raisins and herbs.

Law rule institutions are slowly becoming more efficient and transparent. The beginning of online applications and publication has increased public access to government decision-making information. Now hundreds of percent of public tenders are electronically announced. The electronic procurement and portal platform for transparency are documenting the decisions for public procurement, enabling greater surveillance and accountability. Courts have published more than 6,000 final decisions. Electronic corners throughout Kosovo are helping citizens obtain municipal documents and property quickly.

During my time here I have seen the change in approach to domestic violence. Terrible incidents still exist, but I have seen tangible evidence of increased awareness of individual rights. Victims are increasingly willing to report cases, and courts are working hard to try these cases quickly, directly and efficiently. Kosovo's basic courts are also long examining the subjects and reducing the number of old subjects. To me, these advances are a sign of increased public confidence in the justice system.

However, the challenges remain. We all know that the rule of law in Kosovo is not as powerful as it can or as long as it should be, especially in cases involving people with political influence. Kosovo has spent the first ten years of its citizenship building a contemporary justice system and establishing solid laws that put it before many other European states, but the institutions of justice must do the best work and focus on the application and uniform implementation of the law to meet the needs of citizens. Political interference in the justice system must stop. Politicians who intervene and judges and prosecutors who allow this are shooting at their country's future.

For the continuation of success, Kosovo must fully accept those who have not fully accepted them in the past -- women, youth and non-US communities. Although there are positive examples at the Constitutional Court, at the Central Election Commission and in the Police Inspectorate the talented Kosovo women have to give more. Young people and non-US communities, which have tremendous potential, are still in margins. I still believe that reconciliation between Albanians and Serbs in Kosovo is essential for the future in peace and prosperity, but much still has to be done to properly include Kosovo Serbs and other minorities in the country's institutions and society.

Uncertain power supplies continue to choke economic growth. I'm glad there's movement for New Kosovo “, but to come up to the day when this power plant starts producing electricity you need a government devoted to active and timely engagement, and to make constructive decisions on this project.

I'm also worried that recent proposals for additional social assistance schemes can undermine fiscal stability for years. To meet these challenges successfully, I call on Kosovo leaders to be stewards of the economy and to double their efforts to help all -- not only those with good connections or politicians -- to advance and ensure that all Kosovo children inherit a stable and prosperous economy.

I hope you face these challenges. Partly because I have observed that civil society organizations of all kinds are growing in size and size, and they are giving voice to individuals with common interests and needs. Organisations such as “enabled” and “Development Democracy”, which focus on interethnic co-operation, are also helping people from all over Kosovo to realize they have more things in common than they think.

As for the country's relations with neighbouring states, I continue to believe that normalising relations with Serbia is essential to Kosovo's future. The political leadership of any party should find common points for Kosovo's goals and find a way to move forward, reflecting the interests of all people. Kosovo needs this spirit of co-operation from its leaders very great and urgent to achieve progress.

Kosovo has no time to waste dealing with its challenges. It should demonstrate the international skeptical community that it can be a reliable partner who embraces transatlantic values. It will be constantly under surveillance, not only from outside, but also from Kosovo's own citizens, especially the young. Leaders, both in politics and civil society, must decide what Kosovo wants to see. Citizens need to understand that they play an essential role in seeking the change they want to see but also in promoting it. If they don't, this change won't come.

My time here almost ended, but I hope I will return to Kosovo to see a country being built on early victories and moving towards the even brighter future. I imagine a place where there is fair and fair division of justice, where law protects all equally. Where businesses can progress with labor and innovation. Where communities look beyond differences to see what they have in common and build on them. Where the youth of the country has a genuine voice and genuine interest in the future right here. These are my dreams for Kosovo.

Ambassador Greg Delawie's Editor for the Voice