Former U.S. Congressman Joe DioGuardi has said that Kosovo needs to elect a president as soon as possible.

Speaking in Pristina, he said that the ongoing political crisis is putting Kosovo in a difficult situation.

“I am here, as you know, to make sure that you have a president. And I hope that happens before I leave. If it does not happen before I leave, you will be in big trouble, because you have enemies who are already prepared to upset the balance in the Balkans. That is why it is important that I came here with my loud voice to wake up the Albanian people. This is not the time to sleep, because there are people ready to take away what you have. I am sorry to say this, but you can see it for yourselves,” former U.S. Congressman Joe DioGuardi said.

DioGuardi made the statement this Monday in Pristina, where he and his wife, Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi, were granted Kosovo citizenship.

Passports of the Republic of Kosovo were presented to Joe DioGuardi and Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi by Acting President Albulena Haxhiu, after they had earlier also received the decree granting them Kosovo citizenship.