The Soldier in the Photograph: In Memory of Richard Holbrooke

Hajdin Abazi, Kosovo's ambassador to Australia, posing with his photo with Ambassador Richard Holbrooke. Photo courtesy of Hajdin Abazi.

Following the easing of COVID-19 lockdown measures in Australia in June this year, I met Kosovo's then ambassador to the country, Hajdin Abazi, at a restaurant in Canberra to discuss the ongoing Serbia-Kosovo dialogue.

I was ecstatic to discover Abazi is the person who Western media continue to refer to as the "unidentified" Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA, soldier from a somewhat enigmatic photograph with the late US Ambassador Richard "Dick" Holbrooke.

Those familiar with the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s will recognize the iconic image that I am referring to. It is the one where a shoeless Holbrooke, in a white pin-stripe shirt, sits shoulder to shoulder on a rug next to a soldier decked out in military fatigues, a green beret with the KLA symbol on it, muddy boots and clutching an AK-47. Both men wore glasses and looked rather relaxed - Holbrooke even had his tie loosened. As it turns out, what seems like a tranquil moment had enormous diplomatic ramifications.

I was keen to hear about Abazi's impression of Holbrooke and learn about the context of the photograph. Who doesn't like a Holbrooke story?

The American diplomat lived a life filled with drama. True to his theatrical persona, he died just over ten years ago shortly after collapsing in the midst of a meeting with the then Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. Holbrooke's final words were: "You've got to end this war in Afghanistan", sending Western pundits into a flurry as they agonized over the exact meaning behind his last wish.

Holbrooke was a bit like Vegemite, that dark brown Aussie spread made from leftover brewers' yeast...