Lawler calls on Kosovo’s leaders: Political unity is more essential than ever

Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti has received a letter from U.S. Congressman Michael Lawler, who serves on the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee and chairs the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa.

Lawler congratulated Kurti on securing a fourth mandate at the helm of Kosovo’s government. In his message, he called on all political representatives to return to dialogue in good faith in order to reach an agreement on the election of the country’s president.

According to him, a political consensus would make it possible to avoid new parliamentary elections and would help preserve the functioning and institutional stability of Kosovo.

An important part of the letter was also devoted to U.S. support for Kosovo’s membership in NATO. Congressman Lawler said that “such a step would be decisive not only for Kosovo’s long-term security, but also for preserving peace throughout the Western Balkans.”

“Partly as a result of your work toward NATO membership, I see Kosovo on the right path to becoming a strong democracy, with solid economic growth and shared prosperity. Government stability is key. Therefore, I hope your country will successfully elect a new president in the coming weeks, in order to prevent a new round of parliamentary elections, for the fourth time in less than two years,” Lawler wrote.

The U.S. congressman, known as one of Kosovo’s most outspoken supporters in the U.S. Congress, also linked the need for political cooperation to the judgment handed down by the Specialist Chambers in The Hague on September 16.

“Especially in light of last week’s judgment in The Hague, there is no more important moment for Kosovo’s national unity than now. I urge you to work to ensure that all political actors return to negotiations in good faith and find the necessary consensus to elect a president,” Congressman Lawler added.

He also underscored that institutional stability is essential for focusing on the country’s priority issues, including deepening its close partnership with the United States.