O'Connell on the last day as ambassador: I'll miss you, Britain interests a strong and prosperous Kosovo

He starts with saying that service in Kosovo has been the greatest honour he has had in his career. O'Connell said he would miss many things from Kosovo, including his mother-in-law's sarma.

The British ambassador said his country is interested in a strong, prosperous, secure and caring for its problems, as well as fighting them. “The stronger Kosovo is, the safer Britain”, he writes.

O'Connell said every country must solve its own internal affairs and not expect internationals. He added that the internationals will help Kosovo, as they have done in the past, but Kosovo must take responsibility for its future.

By stopping the elections, he said they are a real possibility for Kosovo. O'Connell said he understands the pressures for a job, but should be voted for what they have the best vision for the country.

I won't tell you how to vote; I'm not the one to live with the consequences, but you. I want you to feel that you, and only you, have the power to do Kosovo the way you want it. But you have to choose to use that fuq”, he said.

The full post of Ambassador Ruairi O'Connell:

Last day!

Unfortunately, but it's time to say goodbye to Kosovo.

In my career, my greatest honor has been to serve here as British Ambassador, and to promote relations between our two great nations.

To be honest, being a British ambassador to Kosovo is likely different from being a British ambassador elsewhere, because of the unique relationship between our countries. Every day, I feel the love the people of Kosovo have for Britain. My family and I will miss a lot from Kosovo. I'm gonna miss walking through Pristina. We will miss the beautiful mountains of Kosovo, although it was Elida, not I, who ran through them. I will miss football matches at Fadil Vokrri, football matches in Slatina and Vitomirica, Dokufest in Prizren, Sunny Hill Festival, the Kosovo National Ballet, the audience at the National Library, the tranquillity of the Decani Monastery.

I'm going to miss my mother-in-law's sarma, lunches from Tartine, football games we see in Beergard and Tapas, Ponte vetehio's pizzas, Tiffanian tat, chicken sandwiches from A&A, and everything from Renaisance.

But Kosovo makes it unique for Kosovars. I will lack the extraordinary hospitality and generosity of people from all over Kosovo. We have felt at home since the first day. We've made many dear friends, and we're all going to miss them. I will lack the keen sense of humor of all communities: there is no misfortune where you in a way find humor in it.

But, above all, I will lack energy from volunteers, activists and the wonderful young people I have met all over Kosovo, from volunteers working for tennis sport, running, supporting deaf people, defending the environment, protesting corruption, promoting football, teaching minority and marginalised groups, protesting sexism and mismanagement, supporting families of missing persons, campaigning for survivors of sexual violence, talking against attacks, and dealing with hundreds of other causes. Your devotion has been inspired of me. You make me feel optimistic about Kosovo's future.

My job has been to promote Britain's interests in Kosovo. I have always felt that our interests are well served by a strong, prosperous, secure Kosovo and that it cares for its own problems and that it fights our own common problems, such as organized crime. The stronger Kosovo is, the safer Britain is.

Kosovo looks to its international friends for instructions, perhaps too much. As I have often said, at the end of my term, my family and I will board the plane and return home; and you must live here. So it is very important that Kosovo take responsibility for its future.

It breaks my heart when I think of Kosovo's difficulties for independence, and twenty years after the war there is a feeling that the international community, somehow “owes” Kosovo a better governance, a better economy, and better courts. Indeed, we do not owe Kosovo any. This is the prize of Independence. You have to do it yourself. We can help you, we can help you, but we can't do it for you. Can it be recalled that a country whose problems have been solved by a kind stranger until its citizens were watching? Not me.

The upcoming elections are a real possibility for Kosovo. I will not tell you how to vote; I am not the one to live with the consequences, but you yourselves. I want you to feel that you, and only you, have the power to do Kosovo the way you want it. But you must choose to use that power. I heard friends say they wanted to vote differently, but they had to vote to help a family member win a job, or they were expected to vote in a certain way. I understand the pressures. But I am also aware that the future, for which so many sacrifices were made by all, including 14 British soldiers, will be built only by taking responsibility for your country. Vote for anyone you think has the best vision for Kosovo, and will lead Kosovo best. The choice is yours and you can, you need it, use it freely. You live in a bullocr aci; your representatives and leaders will answer only if they require accountability. This is the same in every democracy.

It was a great honor to witness Kosovo independence 11 years ago. I held the letter of recognition by Gordon Bron (but he was then my boss, David Blunt), who had the honor of handing him over!) I know a small part of Kosovo's difficulties. Until I leave, there is a chance that Kosovo will not only reach agreements with Serbia, but also lay the foundation for friendship in the future. Your leaders must negotiate this; and peace building is difficult. I would say that. Criminals already co-operate very closely throughout the Balkans. Common and honest citizens need to find the way to cooperate better than criminals. Ignore those who try to gain power by dividing you; using plastic patriotism is the oldest way to get attention away from their own shortcomings. From talking to communities throughout Kosovo, I know that the citizens' unmica want the same things. The fact that so many young Albanians and Serbs are now learning each other's language shows that the new generation has not forgotten the past, but wants to build another future.

Wherever I go, I will always be a friend of Kosovo. I only have one friendly request, if you will. My successor, Nicholas Abbott, is an experienced and capable diplomat. Please extend to him and his family a warm welcome and the friendship you gave me. I'm sure you'll soon become close friends.