Cameron's visit to Kosovo offered support for new security, recognition

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron has said Thursday in Pristina that Great Britain will help Kosovo in its aspirations, citing the new recognition process here.

Cameron, has chosen Kosovo as the first state to launch official visits in 2024.

On the evening of January 3rd, Cameron was hosted at Pristina International Airport édem Jasharı, by his Kosovo counterpart, Donika Grovalla Schwarz, to meet later with Republika Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

During a media proposal with Kosovo Foreign Affairs Minister Donika Grovalla, on 4 January in Pristina, Cameron has stressed the importance of peace and stability in the Western Balkans, saying that Great Britain is investing in this.

“We live in a world of great uncertainty, great instability, a world of major conflicts, and it is a time when countries like Britain should support our friends, work closely in our important alliances and invest in areas that have been unstable, but are now showing great signs of stability and progress. And that's why we're here and that's why we want to keep working with you”, he said.

While in Kosovo, Cameron has also met with Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, as well as Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

British diplomat, too, has said his state will help Kosovo in the field of recognition.

“We are great supporters of Kosovo's independence, sovereignty and right to be recognised by others as a full, sovereign country and member of the family of nations”.

We are here to support you, to promote you, to help you in all the ways we can”, he stated.

Cameron has said that in Kosovo, last year, there were 600 British troops under the KFOR mission. Great Britain also trains members of the Kosovo Security Force.

During this conference, Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Donika Grevalla has said that the British diplomat has announced the challenges Kosovo faced during the past year, citing the September 24th attack on Zvecan Banjska when an armed group of Serbs attacked the Kosovo Police, killing a policeman.

During the clashes that followed in Zvecan Banjska, three Serb attackers were also killed.

The old “recipes before Russia's attack on Ukraine for resolving challenges and conflicts no longer function. The West has been successful when there was a clear and firm stand. The West has been politically and economically strong when it acted decisively and based on its firm principles in the face of aggressive Moscow, not weak and unprogressive compromises”, Grovall said on January 4th in Pristina.

Minister Gervalla has thanked Cameron for the continued support Britain is giving Kosovo in various areas.

Following the attack on Banjska on 24 September 2023, Great Britain announced the provisional deployment of about 200 additional soldiers to KFOR, following NATO's request. These 200 soldiers have joined the 400-strong British contingent in the country.

When Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on February 17th 2008, the United Kingdom became one of the first countries to officially recognise sovereign Kosovo on February 18, 2008.

David Cameron was appointed Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth and Development on November 13th, 2023.

He has been prime minister of Great Britain from May 2010 to July 2016.