The Ambassador of the United States of America, Jeffrey Hovenier, has stated that in Kosovo “there are malicious foreign actors active who try to undermine Kosovo’s democracy by exploiting ethnic divisions”.
He said that something like this should not be allowed to happen.
At a conference on information integrity DISICON, organized by the Washington-based National Democratic Institute (NDI), Hovenier emphasized that disinformation can have major consequences, especially during election years, adding that it is important that citizens have access to secure information.
He has mentioned a fake conversation published on social networks a few years ago where it was about an untrue conversation between him and Prime Minister Albin Kurti, saying that it was “intended to sow mistrust within the Kosovo Serb community”.
“Disinformation can have major consequences, but especially during election years and it is important that citizens have access to reliable information to make the best decisions they can for the future of their country… There are malicious foreign actors active in trying to undermine Kosovo’s democracy by exaggerating ethnic divisions. We must not let this happen… You have seen how a fake conversation between me and Prime Minister Kurti that seemed to aim to sow distrust in the Kosovo Serb community was posted online. Fortunately, not many people took it seriously and I had spoken that it was not me, but whatever technology was using my voice, but Prime Minister Kurti spoke with a British accent and very quickly we understood and had the opportunity to deny such a thing. But the fact that someone had written a script, prepared it, made a recording to sow mistrust and worry in the Serbian community and published it on social networks, is an indicator of the problem I’m talking about,” declared Hovenier.
For this reason, he said that such movements show that malicious actors try to use the multi-ethnic nature of Kosovo to create division.
“Such movements show that malicious actors try to use the multi-ethnic nature of Kosovo to create divisions. Kosovo’s diversity is a source of strength and Kosovo is a very ethnic state, it is a source of strength and not of division. And initiatives like DISCION can find new ways to build ecosystems, information that fosters trust between ethnic groups making the country stronger. The US is very committed to this work,” added Hovenier.
Hovenier, who ends his mandate in Kosovo at the end of December, has reiterated the role of the US towards Kosovo, saying that it remains committed to this country in support of independent media, including those run by minorities.
