William Walker: Relations between US and Kosovo have waned

In an interview for Kosova Preess, he says America's interest in Kosovo should return, as far as it goes, he said he feels disappointed.

Twenty years earlier he had confessed to the world about the massacre of Recak. This event is one of the bloodiest in Kosovo.

Twenty years later, former OSCE observer mission chief William Walker says he is very fresh in Kosovo's terrible vision.

On her 11th anniversary of independence, he prayed that everyone would work for her. He says he doesn't like to hear as he is not staying in Kosovo.

My “message for Kosovo is to keep pace. Do what you think is best for Kosovo. Try to keep the youth you educate here. Don't let them go to Germany, France. To look even better, Kosovo needs everyone's work to achieve it. I don't like hearing like Kosovars leave in Germany, Great Britain and the United States. My message is: stay here, work for Kosovo. Each time it's getting better and we all have to be optimistic”, he said.

After Walker's confession to the international community for the Recak massacre, it has been recognised as one of the main events, which has marked a major turn since then, in international diplomacy. Turn this into a report with Serbia at the time and Kosovo, envisioning all of what happened, leading to NATO's 78-day air bombing campaign.

And similar support, 20 years after Kosovo is not being found by internationals.

The American diplomat says the current relations with the US are not very strong, which he says is disappointed.

The relationship is fine, but it's not very strong. 20 years ago everyone in America knew something about Kosovo and everyone here loved America. For both sides this has become slightly dim, and I think that my state (American) is not doing all it can to help Kosovo, our friends in Kosovo. The relationship is good, no big problems but oblivion. We should hope that it will improve properly. I'm a little disappointed, but it's going to be okay”, Walker says.

Walker says he will work to rekindle America's interest in Kosovo.

You have to work on it too and I have to work too. The United States has many other problems. Kosovo has moved somewhat in the background. We have to rekindle America's interest in this country. America was very involved in Kosovo's creation, America should be very interested in Kosovo's future, not to forget that Kosovo dream I spoke about, he declares.

On the 11th anniversary of Kosovo independence, The KSF has paraded on the capital square, for the first time as the Kosovo Army. William Walker says that 20 years ago when he met Kosovo, he never believed that this could happen.

“When I met Kosovo 20 years ago or if I knew Kosovo 11 years ago, I would never believe I would see the Kosovo Army parade on “Mother Teresa”. If this happened then anything is possible. I'm glad people here are thinking about culture, education, sports... The army is not too big. It was a pleasure to see female soldiers. Not all units have women, but in three or four groups I saw women. That's a very good thing. I was here a year ago and I saw the police and others march, but this is the army and it's great. Every country has to have an army. The only message is: go on like this, have faith and do what you think should be done as Kosovar”, he concludes.

The great friend of the American Albanians and diplomat William Walker, both in every anniversary of the state of Kosovo and this year, has come to celebrate the 11th anniversary of independence.