UK ambassador says Kosovo deadlock is weakening support

Kosovo’s political deadlock is weakening its international position and making it harder for Western allies to defend the country, Britain’s ambassador in Pristina has warned.

Jonathan Hargreaves said the crisis was allowing Kosovo’s opponents to portray it as weak and unstable.

His warning came after Kosovo held its third parliamentary election in less than 18 months, again leaving Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s Vetëvendosje without a clear route to power.

Hargreaves said Kosovo’s constitution was built for compromise, not political dominance.

He said parliament had been fully functional for only about 10 of the past 75 weeks.

Britain, Germany and Italy have urged Kosovo’s parties to form institutions.