St Patrick’s Day in Pristina

The Ambassador was honoured to call on Prime Minister Albin Kurti, with whom he discussed Ireland’s upcoming EU Presidency and its commitment to advancing Kosovo’s European perspective. Their conversation also touched on the importance of creative compromise in the EU-mediated dialogue, as well as their shared excitement for Kosovo’s football team, which will host Ireland for the first time this September.

Ambassador Almqvist also met with First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Glauk Konjufca, Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship, Trade and Innovation Mimoza Kusari-Lila, and Minister of Culture and Tourism Saranda Bogujevci. These meetings explored opportunities to deepen cooperation in culture, tourism, industrial development, and educational exchange, with a focus on advancing Kosovo’s integration into the European Union.

The visit coincided with St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, which the Embassy marked with a reception attended by Kosovo’s political leadership, the diplomatic corps, and local partners. Reflecting on the shared values and aspirations of both nations, Ambassador Almqvist highlighted Ireland’s support for Kosovo’s journey toward EU membership and its participation in international fora like the Council of Europe. Reflecting on Kosovo and Ireland’s footballing successes, and recalling PM Kurti’s admiration for Irish actress Jessie Buckley, the Ambassador remarked:

The Ambassador’s visit to the Football Federation of Kosovo further underscored the role of sport in diplomacy. Meeting with President Agim Ademi, he discussed the historic matches between Ireland and Kosovo this autumn and exchanged well-wishes for their respective World Cup playoff campaigns. As a former goalkeeper, the Ambassador was presented with a commemorative shirt, symbolising the growing friendship between the two nations.

Support for civil society remains a cornerstone of Ireland’s engagement in Kosovo. Ambassador Almqvist visited Platforma CiviKos and the Barabar Centre, where he discussed the vital role of dialogue and cooperation in bridging community divides and fostering inclusive development.

The visit concluded on a cultural note, as the Ambassador presented Prime Minister Kurti with a copy of Maggie O’Farrell’s acclaimed novel Hamnet, inspired by the film adaptation starring Jessie Buckley, a gesture reflecting the Prime Minister’s love of Irish film and the deepening cultural connections between the two countries.

The full transcript of the Ambassador’s remarks are available below.