The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, has awarded the order "Dr. Ibrahim Rugova" to American Ambassador Jeffrey Hovenier, who has decided to leave the mission in Kosovo and retire.
Osmani has appreciated Hovenieri as more than an ambassador in Kosovo.
"The order "Dr. Ibrahim Rugova", for Jeff Hovenier - who for Kosovo was more than an Ambassador. He was with us when the people of Kosovo were victims of heinous crimes, he was with us when he reported on the Reçak massacre, he was with us when we laid the foundations of our independent state, and he was with us during the last years in defense of independence, sovereignty and unbreakable alliance with the USA. Thank you Ambassador Hovenier!” she wrote on Facebook and published a video of the ceremony.
Hovenier said that it was a privilege to be ambassador to Kosovo.
"Deeply honored and grateful to receive the presidential order 'Dr. Ibrahim Rugova' from President Vjosa Osmani last night. This means a lot to me as it represents the collective work and dedication of everyone who has been part of the effort to ensure peace and stability in Kosovo and to advance our common vision of a sovereign, democratic and multi-ethnic state. It has been a great privilege to serve as the US ambassador here in Kosovo", Hovenier wrote on the "X" platform on Wednesday.
Order for Peace, Democracy and Humanism "Dr. Ibrahim Rugova", is given to persons whose life work is considered a special contribution to the building of peace, the development of democracy and the cultivation of humanity.
Hovenier is ambassador to Kosovo since January 2022.