a minute agoEU says Kosovo will remain “alone and behind”, if you don't listen to friends
Periskopi(2 years ago)
(2 years ago)European Union spokesman Peter Stano has warned Kosovo that she risks remaining <x0vetme and behind”, if she does not listen to her friends and allies, following her late actions in the Serb majority country's north. “We have nothing to say on this subject of the bridge reopening. Just [...]
We have nothing to say on this subject of the bridge reopening. I can only remind of all those who have trouble hearing and understand that all of Kosovo's friends and allies [are] The EU, the US, NATO and Great Britain have clearly and unequivocally said that it is in the interest of Kosovo to listen to friends and allies, otherwise it is threatened to remain lonely and lag behind”, Stano said.
Kosovo's government announced in early August its intentions to open the bridge on the Iber River, also for the flow of vehicles, which divides Mitrovica south with Albanian majority and in the Serb-run north despite opposition from the US, the EU and the QUINT countries.
Earlier this week, US Ambassador to Kosovo Jeffrey Hovenier said in an interview for Radio Free Europe that there is real danger that opening the bridge in Mitrovica at this time could affect the security of NATO soldiers, including American soldiers.
He said he hopes the Kosovo government will hear their request.
On Thursday, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said Kosovo should make sure that the bridge in the north opens in a way that does not promote conflict with the country's allies, nor the increased presence of the NATO mission in Kosovo, KFOR.
Asked about the criticisms of government and Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani's officials, towards the bloc, which has called for the bridge issue to be discussed in dialogue with Serbia in Brussels, Stano said it has nothing to do with any new agreement, but with the implementation of that previously reached for the bridge.
“I can also repeat what we have advised Pristina on a number of occasions: Good governance means that you approach and engage communities that influence specific decisions. To address the bridge issue under EU facilitated dialogue, it means to discuss the modes of implementing the agreement reached for the bridge, rather than a new” agreement, he added.
Within the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, the parties have agreed in 2014 that the bridge will open for circulation, but this has never been realised in practice. Only one side of it is open for pedestrians.
