Ibrit Bridge performing “agreement with Serbia

The Ibër Bridge continues to be blocked for car flow, and as such, according to experts, may remain until a final agreement with Serbia.

With Brussels' agreement on August 25th 2015 for the release of the Iber River bridge in Mitrovica and the plan for implementation of August 2016, the parties had agreed that the bridge would be free for human and vehicles, but that was later not realised.

This did not happen according to connoisseur of developments concerning the dialogue with Serbia, Gazmir Raci, because events occurred as it was building the wall and the provocative train which completely blocked the implementation of that agreement.

Raci adds that the construction of the square in northern Mitrovica as well and the failure to define the municipal administrative line under the Ahtisaari Plan in between the two municipalities have also affected the failure.

Arbresh.info: The bridge over the Iber River believes it will not be “clear to citizens until a final agreement with Serbia?

Gazmir Raci: This issue should not be related to the final agreement because it is a previously agreed technical issue, it should only be implemented by the other side, Serbia.

Arbresh.info: And could a possible agreement in exchange for territories bring the border to this bridge?

Gazmir Raci: The new phase of dialogue and final agreement should not be based on new interethnic divisions, there should not be ethnic dividing lines. Kosovo is already a democratic, independent and sovereign state and that any new openings or drawings of borders are the new potential for new conflicts in the Western Balkans. All 6 Western Balkan states already need good neighbourly, peace, stability and sustainable economic development. We are all tired of the bloody wars that took place in the past in this region, because they have targeted the creation of a clean ethnic state.

Arbresh.info: Or, an association of competencies according to the demands of Serbs, could it keep forever under surveillance the crossings through this bridge?

Gazmir Raci: The association of Serb majority municipalities in Kosovo has no competence, nor should it have any new form of dialogue or final agreement. Kosovo has two levels of governance in its constitutional system, is the municipal level consisting of municipalities and the central level that is from Government etc. While security in Kosovo is guaranteed by the Kosovo Police and that free movement is guaranteed with the Constitutions and laws of this country.

According to Racci, Kosovo should be part of dialogue through its elected government because so did the Constitutional Court last year.

“We need to have a clear platform for where this process should be completed. Kosovo has a commitment to participation in the dialogue also from the Stabilisation Agreement with the EU because we have ratified it in the Republic of International Agreement, and at the same time Serbia has a duty because it has chapter 35 and without the fulfillment of that Serbia cannot become a member of the European Union”, Raci estimates.

The European Union, which had financed more than 1m euros in the project for the revitive of the Ibër Bridge and its opening.

But, Alidin Damati, the journalist who has lived through the reality of all developments in northern and southern Mitrovica, says this project has unfortunately failed because it has long been technically done, while opening is still not happening, writes Arbre.info.

Therefore, I consider that the complete opening of the main bridge over the Iber, meaning the flow of even vehicles, will occur only after the final agreement between the two states”, Damati estimates.

Arbresh.info: And could a possible agreement in exchange for territories bring the border to this bridge?

Alidin Damati: The division of Kosovo, demarcating the border so that the northern part remains within Serbia, included the municipalities of Leposaviqi, Zveqani and Zubin Potok. In this case, I think Mitrovica would receive special status. So, a possible agreement on exchange of territories I don't believe it will bring the border point to this bridge.

Arbresh.info: Or, an association of competencies according to the demands of Serbs, could it keep forever under surveillance the crossings through this bridge?

Alidin Damati: As regards the association and requirements of the Serb community, so far we have heard that the establishment of association will take place in line with the judicial and constitutional order of the Republic of Kosovo. And if that happens, then the association can be acceptable to both sides.

Exactly what is discussed in Washington at the meeting of Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, is not yet known.

This meeting was mediated by US President Donald Trump's special envoy for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Richard Green.

There was Jared Kouchner, special adviser to President Donald Trump, who has a major impact on foreign policy. He is the person who is directly involved in US policy for Israel and Palestine, even though he has no experience in Middle Eastern diplomacy.

The two presidents, Thaci and Vuciq, after returning from Washington, praised it as a very important meeting for the interests of Kosovo and Serbia, but without specifying possible agreement.