WHO is WHO - Karen Pierce: Ambassador with a noble title, promised Kosovo UN membership

She holds the title of "Lady" and has an extensive diplomatic career, which she began fascinated by the politics of the "Iron Lady" - Margaret Thatcher. Ambassador Karen Pierce, the new UK Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, has repeatedly supported the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, as well as the dissolution of UNMIK, Kosovo's membership in Interpol, and the transformation of the KSF into an army. She promised to "do her utmost" to ensure Kosovo becomes a full member of the UN.

"Serving as an ambassador in the USA was an extraordinary privilege. I will cherish the memories and friendships. I sincerely thank everyone—Americans and Britons—who have made our incredible bond stronger than ever in the past five years. There is no greater alliance," she stated on her "X" account on February 5th, after her tenure as the British Ambassador to the USA ended.

Just two days later, she received a new assignment at the other end of the world - the Western Balkans.

The UK Foreign Office states that Pierce is one of the most experienced diplomats and has been tasked with advancing the United Kingdom's strategic objectives across the region, including preparations for the Berlin Process Summit, which will be hosted by the UK this autumn.

The UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, explained that the Western Balkans hold significant importance for the country in combating illegal migration and human trafficking.

"With her experience and expertise, I say, Karen Pierce is the ideal person to continue this important work," Lammy stated.

Knowledge of the Balkans

Pierce first encountered the Western Balkans in the late 1990s when she served as the Deputy Head of the Eastern Adriatic (Balkan) Department at the UK Foreign Office from 1997 to 1999.

She was much more engaged from 2018 to 2020 as the first woman Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations.

During that time, she frequently spoke at UN Security Council meetings dedicated to Kosovo.

"I would like to encourage both sides here not to get too caught up in tactical issues, but to return to broader objectives and, together with the EU High Representative, make every effort to normalize relations," Pierce said in August 2018 after the first Security Council meeting under British presidency.

She added that "it is most important for Serbia and Kosovo, together with the EU assisting them, to move forward in implementing relations."

"Only through normalizing relations will we make progress towards EU integration, which is vital for both peoples and both economies," Pierce stated.

In the same month, as Chair of the UN Security Council, the UK removed the consideration of the regular UNMIK report from the agenda, which Pierce explained by stating that although Kosovo remains of regional European importance, it no longer has the intensity of 1999 to warrant regular sessions in the UN Security Council.

She congratulated UNMIK on its role in Kosovo, but also conveyed that London considers it necessary to reduce this mission.

She also stated that the UK supports Kosovo's membership in Interpol and called on other countries to support this membership, noting that the Kosovo Police are an example of progress.

Just a few months later, in December 2018, she stated at a UN Security Council session that there are no legal obstacles to the transformation of the Kosovo Security Forces into the Army of Kosovo, but that this should be done in cooperation with KFOR.

She noted that after the adoption of Resolution 1244, Kosovo became an independent, sovereign state, adding that this UN Security Council resolution does not contain a provision that prohibits the creation of armed forces in Kosovo.

Commenting on the claim by the Russian Ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, that the formation of the Kosovo army could "return the Balkans to the time of bloodshed," Pierce agreed with him that there is a danger of renewed hostilities in the Balkans, but said that the cause is not Pristina's decision to transform the KSF into an army, but rather those outside of Kosovo.

She herself felt much better within Kosovo.

"Many people have told me that I must ensure that Kosovo becomes a member of the UN. I will do my best," she promised in 2018, as the guest of honor at the Independence Day celebration in Pristina.

Biography

The ambassador with a noble title, Pierce was born in 1959 in Preston, Lancashire.

She graduated in English Language at Girton College, Cambridge, and in 2012 earned a Master of Science in International Strategy and Diplomacy from the London School of Economics.

She became interested in foreign policy at the age of 15 after reading an article about an African-American diplomat in Nice.

Her dream was realized in 1981. She was inspired by Margaret Thatcher's victory in the general elections of 1979. She realized that "women can reach the top."

After studying Japanese, she was sent to Tokyo in 1984. Three years later, she returned to London and joined the Security Policy Department of the Foreign Office.

From 1992 to 1995, she served in Washington as the secretary to the British ambassador to the USA, then on various assignments within the Foreign Office.

Between 1996 and 2000, she was the head of the team for Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova, deputy head of the Eastern Balkans Department, and head of the Foreign Office press office.

From 2006 to 2009, Pierce was the Deputy Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the UN in New York and in this capacity was the president of the Security Council in April 2007 and May 2008.

After that, for three years she was the director for South Asia and Afghanistan at the Foreign Office, also serving as the special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan from June 2010 to June 9, 2011.

From 2012 to 2015, Pierce was the Permanent Representative of the UK to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva, and from May 2015 to February 2016, ambassador to Afghanistan.

After completing her mandate as the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the UN in New York in 2020, she took over her five-year engagement as ambassador to the USA.

In this position, she succeeded the former ambassador Kim Darroch who was forced to resign after making disparaging remarks about then-US President Donald Trump.

Trump later described Pierce as "phenomenal."

This was probably also the reason why Trump's transition team invited Karen Pierce to the inauguration of the 47th president of the USA from the United Kingdom, along with Nigel Farage, the leader of the right-wing Reform Party and a staunch advocate of Brexit.

Pierce is married to Sir Charles Roxburgh, the second permanent secretary of the British Treasury. They have two sons.

Since 2018, she has been a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, which also earned her the title Lady.