The government has no date for opening the bridge!

The US State Department has urged the Government of Kosovo not to make unilateral actions that would increase the potential for violence and put the local population at risk, as well as KFOR soldiers, including Americans who are working to support peace and security in Kosovo. But, Prime Minister Kurti has said the opening of the Ibri Bridge is not against anyone or against Kosovo partners. Despite reports of the bridge testing allow its opening for vehicle flow, the government has not indicated a date for its opening.

 

 

 

The international community is looking to the Kosovo Government's insistence on opening the bridge over the Iber River despite US and KFOR opposition, which are demanding that the bridge not open at this time. Responding to the US ambassador's warnings, Jeffrey Hovenier, who said yesterday that such a government action goes against the cooperative spirit and that it would jeopardise KFOR soldiers, especially the American soldiers, Prime Minister Albin Kurti said the opening of the bridge is not against Kosovo partners, but is Kosovo's legal right.

“With KFOR commander last night we also talked about opening the Bridge over Iber, which we consider as a right, needed and useful thing for all. We have welcomed the preliminary reports of the bridge's sustainability assessment, the relevant results we shared yesterday, even with KFOR commander and his team in the spirit of ongoing consultations and co-ordination. The government and I believe that freedom of movement and rule of law on the one hand and peace and security on the other are both possible and relevant to the country, society and state, citizens and communities. We will continue discussions and co-ordination with our partners. The opening of the bridge is against no one, much less our partners. Kosovo is a normal state, and its bridges must be normal, which means open”, Kurti said.

Meanwhile, the US State Department, through a reaction, has asked the Government of Kosovo not to make unilateral decisions and on the issue of the Ibër bridge to be discussed in the process of dialogue in Brussels.

 

 

The opening of the bridge for moving vehicles now increases the potential for violence and endangers the local population, as well as KFOR soldiers including Americans who are working to support peace and security in Kosovo. We call on the Government of Kosovo not to take this uncoordinated, unilateral action and to discuss this issue within the EU facilitated dialogue”, said the UN response.

But, the government insists it is not taking unilateral action to open the Ibër Bridge. Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi said there is nothing left to discuss in Brussels with Serbia on the issue of opening the bridge over the Iber River.

The opening of the Ibër Bridge in Mitrovica is not the unilateral decision of the Government of Kosovo, nor is the pending or unresolved issue of the dialogue process, but it is the main requirement of the agreement between Kosovo and Serbia and mediated by the EU in 2015 and 2016. Furthermore, the EU implementation plan of August 5, 2016, considers the opening of the bridge as “The symbol of normalisation of relations between Kosovo Serbs, Albanians and other communities”, Bislim said.

Bislimi added that for technical inspections on the Ibri Bridge, a partner of the QUINT countries had received recommendation during a meeting long ago. So why is there no official EU position for such a thing?

“In the recent visit of Emissar Lajcak to Kosovo on June 19th, during the meeting we had, on the Ibri Bridge, he said that if Kosovo does not prefer to discuss this issue again in Brussels, his recommendation was that internal discussions with local Serbs in the north be held to address possible security implications and their concerns over the issue. Meanwhile, a QUINT partner added the application for technical inspections. We have followed both these recommendations. Now the EU is threatening Kosovo, if it implements the EU-brokered agreement itself and additional recommendations”, Bislimi said.

Meanwhile, the European Union has warned that if the Kosovo government continues with unilateral actions for the opening of the Ibër bridge, punitive measures against Kosovo could be expanded. The EU has told him RTV21 plans to discuss the status of the Ibri Bridge in Brussels at the next meeting between Kosovo and Serbia. Meanwhile, yesterday the Government released the preliminary report of testing and measurements of the Ibër Bridge, in which the Ibër Bridge meets all conditions for vehicle flow. But the government still does not have a date when it will open the bridge for vehicle flow.

The bridge is currently in limes and other preparations that are part of a government plan. I can't say here today an exact date when the” bridge will open, Krasniqi said.

NATO mission commander in Kosovo, KFOR, Oezkan Uluntas, has held a meeting with Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who has asked him not to take unilateral action. In a statement issued after Tuesday's meeting, KFOR has said it does not hesitate to act on any development it may have.