Havenier completes the term: Leaving as a strong friend of Kosovo

The United States Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Havenier, has officially completed his three-year mandate today, holding the last farewell meeting with President Vjosa Osmani.

In his address, the ambassador emphasised the symbolic conclusion of his mission with the same act that began the setting of a flower crown at the statue of former President Ibrahim Rugova, honoring the figure and values for which he stood.

Houvenier remembered with gratitude President Rugova's efforts for a sovereign, democratic and multiethnic Kosovo built on high international values.

He expressed pride in the opportunity he had to recognise and respect Rugova from his beginning as a diplomat, stressing the importance of the legacy he has left for Kosovo.

“Sic said President Osmani, we just finished our farewell meeting, and this is my last group of official meetings as ambassador of the United States to Kosovo. As the president mentioned, three years ago, almost exactly three years ago, at the beginning of January 2002, I arrived in this country. I handed over my credentials to the President, and my first public official act was to join the President to place a crown here at the statue of former President Rugova. And I found it very appropriate that my last official act as US Ambassador to Kosovo was to close this cycle by doing the same thing. I do this in memory of President Rugova and what he stood for, his insistence on the rights of all of Kosovo's people, his insistence on a sovereign, democratic, multiethnic and prosperous state, his insistence on pursuing these goals in line with the international community's highest values. I had the pleasure of knowing him as a very young diplomat at the time, and I respected him very much. So I'm very proud and honored to do this honor as my last official act of”.

Also, I want to thank the people of Kosovo. It has been the task of my dreams to serve as a US ambassador here for three years and to have this opportunity to work together with the people of Kosovo to help advance the country. The United States is committed to our partnership. We want to see Kosovo succeed and progress. When I think about what this country was like when I started working for it in the late 1990s, when I think about what it was like in the time of independence and when I think about what it is now, there is no doubt about the progress and the capacity of the people of Kosovo, about their sustainability to realise their vision of a sovereign, independent, democratic, multiethnic, prosperous and successful state. It has been my pleasure and honor to play a small role in supporting this process. Along with the American people, I wish you all every success. I will leave as an even stronger friend of Kosovo than I was when I arrived”.

The ambassador thanked the people of Kosovo for the co-operation and progress he has seen during his years in the country, calling this task “the dream of his life”. He praised Kosovo's journey from the late 1990s to today, stressing its success in building an independent and stable state.

In closing, Houvenier reiterated the United States' commitment to Kosovo and expressed his conviction about the country's potential and bright future.