A Ceremony of Merit for the Ambassador of Kosovo, H.E. Dr Vjosa Dobruna who will be leaving the Netherlands soon.
By Roy Lie Atjam.
The ceremony took place at the Crown Plaza Hotel The Hague on 20 April 2018. After being highly praised by H.E. Mrs. Andrea Gustovic –Ercegovac, Ambassador of Croatia, H.E. Mr. Willys Delvalle, Ambassador of Panama showered more accolades on his colleague and friend Vjosa.
Dr. Mayelinne De Lara of Diplomat Magazine presented Ambassador Vjosa Dobruna with a Certificate of Merit and a bouquet of flowers. Mr. Roy Le Atjam, Diplomat Magazine’s editor, acted as master of ceremony.
In her farewell speech Ambassador Andrea Gustovic-Ercegovac noted: “The Hague, not only the centre of power of the Netherlands, but also being one of the centers of the world diplomacy is a place where only the best are sent to serve!
So it is no wonder that Vjosa was sent to this very important centre to promote her country and to uphold the values she has built throughout her life!
We have gathered here today to bid farewell to our distinguished colleague and exemplary diplomat Her Excellency Dr.Vjosa Dobruna, Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
On this occasion, I am honoured to be able to say a few words about my dear colleague and friend. Prior to joining diplomatic service, Dr. Dobruna had a dedicated career as a practicing pediatrician, a human rights advocate and a campaigner, as well as active contributor to the causes that matter, mainly dedicated to human rights and freedoms.
Dear Colleagues, Dear Ambassador Dobruna,
I would like to express admiration for the work and the achievements of your mandate and gratitude for the cooperation, both personal and official.
It was a pleasure for all of us to have the opportunity to work with you on every occasion.
I wish you all the best for your future endeavors, professionally and privately!”
Ambassador Willys Delvalle, mentioned that Dr Vjosa Dobruna is a true professional of diplomacy with quite a trajectory, an incredible advocate of human rights.
“I also have to say, she dresses elegantly. After presenting her Letters of Credence to HM King Willem Alexander in 2013, we have witnessed her excellent diplomatic skills.
Dr Dobruna has devoted a full year working on strengthening the relations with the Latin-America region, considering this as her first diplomatic designation in the Kosovo Diplomatic service in 2012. She was as it were Ambassador at large in Latin -America. Furthermore, she has done an incredible job in The Hague, putting Kosovo on the map for many people.
Ambassador Dobruna is one of those professionals who compliment all her knowledge, experience and her high-level education with a very special human quality. Several awards have been bestowed upon her, such as Edward Barsky Award for courageous physician(USA) and Medalio dell Oro(Italy).
Dr. Dobruna is a persistent and committed woman since we believe this is a farewell we will only give her an “Hasta Luego”
We wish our friend Vjosa every success in her new projects and adventures”
In her acceptance remarks Dr. Vjosa Dobruna stated: “thank you all for coming to my farewell reception. I have enjoyed so much working and living in The Hague, I even learned to treasure the weather of The Hague. It was really my privilege to serve my country in such an admirable country like The Kingdom of the Netherlands. I will always be grateful for the hospitality and friendship.
As I’m going to conclude my term at the end of this month as Kosovo Ambassador after 4 years and 7 months, and I am happy to note that Kosovo relationship with Netherlands is good, and it is important to maintain and further increase that cooperation.
People have their impression and opinions about my country and I have mine which I tried to introduce here! My country is not in the news for war and conflict, but it is for successes in different fields of life. I had spoken to many, many students in different universities and spoke to lots of media about the achievements in my country during this years, and about how much more needs to be done in the future.
Only if we can convince EU to come up with common policy regarding my country and the region!. It is not only we join Europe tomorrow, but support the region in integration so we can change our countries.
It has been pointed out that I am not a professional diplomat; I have been accused of practicing “activist diplomacy” that is what I am and will continue to be. So, please help my successor in that endeavor of integrating Kosovo in international organizations.
As Ambassador, I was lucky to have been involved in several important visits in the past years. In December 2013, President of the Republic, Ms. Atifete Jahjaga visited Netherlands and was received in audience with His Majesty King Willem Alexander, PM Mark Rutte and Ankie Broekers-Knol, President of the Senate and Speaker of Tweede Kamer, Anouchka van Miltenburg.
During the first visit of then President Jahjaga, the first cooperation with Diplomatic magazine started; thanks to Mayelinne De Lara, we organized Meet & Greet at Carlton Ambassador.
Remember going, travelling to Koln in Germany to purchase Kosovo wine to be served next day. Thank you Diplomat Magazine, you have been a true friend and I am going to be always grateful.
Cultural diplomacy was very important part of my tenure; several exhibitions are organized here, Wassenaar and in Rotterdam; a small window of getting to know my country was opened.
As I will depart from The Hague to Prishtina, taking home many, many sweet memories. I will miss this beautiful country, I will miss long walk in Scheveningen and Wassenaar with my fellow diplomat friends; long, long visits to museums alone and many fast lunches and long dinners! I will not forget my friends here.”
