The United Kingdom’s special envoy for the Western Balkans, Karen Pearce, has said that there is no need for a magic solution to the issue between Kosovo and Serbia, as she says, it is enough to implement the existing agreements – those of Brussels and Ohrid.
Pearce is returning to the region after nearly 30 years – for the third time in her diplomatic career.
Pearce, who until 2006 served as coordinator for the Balkans at the British Foreign Office, says she is taking on this role with great enthusiasm and deep experience in regional affairs.
“I don’t think we need a new approach or some magic solution that would solve the problems in Bosnia and Herzegovina, or in the issue between Kosovo and Serbia,” she declared, BBC Serbian reports.
Talks between Pristina and Belgrade have been stalled for months, and there have been no significant contacts between leaders of the two sides since the signing of the Ohrid Agreement in the spring of 2024. Pierce stressed the importance of implementing existing agreements.
“The Brussels and Ohrid agreements contain very good ideas. They are not theoretical agreements, but address very practical issues such as freedom of movement, access and participation. It is vital that politicians implement them to help citizens and communities,” the emissary said.
Karen Pearce was appointed as the UK’s special envoy for the Western Balkans in February 2025, succeeding Stuart Peach in the role. She was the first woman to serve as Britain’s ambassador to the US, as well as an official representative to the United Nations in a long diplomatic career.