The government today accepts the report on the stability of the Ibër Bridge, KFOR and QUINT don't change their attitude. What about it?

The government, today, is expected to accept the report compiled by the company that has made the bridge measurements and tests, to know whether the bridge is stable enough.

“Tomorrow comes the report. The company sends it down to us, and We publish it.”, Durmish told the medium “Callxo.com”.

According to him, the results of this report will be key to the final decision on the bridge reopening.

Representatives of the QUINT countries in Kosovo have publicly said they do not support the opening of the bridge at this time.

The European Union has said the issue of opening the Ibër Bridge should be the subject of dialogue with Serbia.

This has been rejected by Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, who declared that “would be a serious violation of sovereignty, territorial integrity and constitutionality in our country”.

And, KFOR has said several times in recent days it will not hesitate to act if it notes actions near the bridge that could undermine citizens' safety.

Currently the Ibri Bridge is open to pedestrians, but not even for cars, and Italian carabinieri of the NATO mission in Kosovo patrol it, KFOR.

What is said in the EU agreement on opening Ibër Bridge?

Title Dialogue Mediated by the European Union implementing the Mitrovica Bridge Agreement, the document reportedly says that “tan, which is on the horizon of full implementation, the Mitrovica Bridge will become the symbol of normalisation of relations between Kosovo Serbs, Kosovo Albanians and other communities“.

The approach is stressed that the revitration of the bridge, as well as King Petar Street, will greatly contribute to facilitating contacts among all the people of northern and southern Mitrovica and thus contribute to exchange and understanding.

“agreed that the remaining construction permit will be issued and that the re-visiting of the Mitrovica bridge and its district will begin on 14 August 2016. The Mitrovica Bridge will open for pedestrians and vehicles in both directions in line with technical assessment recommendations, and architectural design agreed on both sides in June 2015.

“The bridge construction operations will be carried out by entering the shipyard via the south entrance route. The bridge will open for all traffic on January 20th, 2017<18x1>.

Also planned at the time, a working group will regularly monitor and review together with both mayors, the predominant political and security conditions in municipalities during and after the revising process.

Kosovo Police Department, EULEX and KFOR in line with their respective mandates will ensure a safe and secure environment. They will consult for appropriate security measures, including the two mayors”, the document said.

After all of this, however, things in the north had changed, and increasing violence and uncertainty had caused the Ibër Bridge to not be opened.

In 2018, the first works by the EU on the Ibër Bridge had been completed and the cost of the project was estimated to be around 1.5m euros.

“Works on the Mitrovica bridge have been completed and the bridge should be opened for the flow of vehicles without delay or further obstacles”, the EU report said in2019.

The bridge, however, never opened for circulation.

In the 2023 EU report, the sentence added to the bridge's issue: “Any decision for opening the bridge should have reconciliation and co-ordination in dialog”.

It was early in 2023 that the Communist Assembly of North Mitrovica had made a decision to open the bridge.

They had said they based the decision on the Brussels Agreement, which had seen the opening of the bridge in 2015-2016. /Periscopi