22 minutes agoKrasniqi: I can't say when bridge can be opened in Mitrovica
Periskopi(2 years ago)
(2 years ago)Local Power Management Minister Elbert Krasniqi said on Wednesday he cannot say when the bridge over the Iber River can be opened in the north, adding that “we are very interested in co-ordinating in this process”. “We're doing all the work and it's certainly an issue which [...]
Local Power Management Minister Elbert Krasniqi said on Wednesday he cannot say when the bridge over the Iber River can be opened in the north, adding that “we are very interested in co-ordinating in this process”.
“We are doing all things and this is certainly an issue that I cannot say here; a date when I can, or the bridge will be opened, because it is absurd”, Krasniqi said at a media conference in Pristina.
Prime Minister Albin Kurti's government has insisted on the opening of the flow bridge and vehicles, which divides Mitrovica south by Albanian majority and in the Serb majority north despite continued opposition from the international community and from local Serbs.
QUINT, US, Britain, France, Germany and Italy countries have singled out Kurt's government's decision to open the bridge at this time. The EU has called for the bridge issue to be discussed in dialogue with Serbia.
Within the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, the parties have agreed that the bridge will open up for circulation, but this has never been realised in practice. Only one side of it is open for pedestrians.
What's the deal for the bridge?
Kosovo and Serbia agreed to open the main bridge on Iber for circulation under dialogue for normalisation of relations in 2014.
It introduced the so-called “riviralisation of the” bridge, with the aim of removing all barricades and operating of the bridge.
The first barricades on this bridge were erected in 2011 by local Serbs, in sign of opposition to Pristina's expansion of authority in the north.
In 2014, those barricades were replaced by concrete fences, which local authorities in North Mitrovica ʹ led by the Serbian List é called “Peace Park”. This “park” was removed in 2016 when the bridge was supposed to be opened for circulation.
In the same year, Kosovo and Serbia agreed to a new implementation plan, whose goal was to overcome disputes about different interpretations that were made to previous conclusions.
According to the new implementation plan, the complete opening of the bridge was supposed to take place in January 2017.
However, the site's restoration work was completed in June 2018.
1.5m euros were invested in that project.
Eventually, the bridge was opened, not for motor vehicles, but only for pedestrians.
KFOR forces, respectively, Italian carabinieri, remain on the bridge.
Earlier Wednesday, Kurti said his government would continue consultations and co-ordination with Kosovo partners on the bridge issue.
Krasniqi added that there is no reason why the bridge should continue to be closed.
There are no arguments the bridge should not be opened. Citizen communication is better than ever. Security in the north is markedly different. Citizens from the north and those from the south communicate more and easier now”, he said.
However, US Ambassador to Kosovo Jeffrey Havenier said in an interview for Radio Free Europe on Tuesday that there is real danger regarding the opening of the bridge in Mitrovica at this time, which could affect the security of NATO soldiers, including American soldiers.
“We believe this risk increases the threat, the possibility of violence and other problems, both for the local community and for NATO soldiers, including American soldiers working to secure peace and security in Kosovo”, Hovenier said.
Krasniqi stressed that Kosovo security authorities have responded to the concerns of Serbian citizens in the north regarding security in this part of the country.
We are constantly in discussions with citizens, with representatives of civil society, political parties, and so on. One such meeting was seen on August 8, where there was a considerable number of citizens, all raising their concerns about security. They got the answers from MPB and police”, he said.
Few Serbs in debate on opening bridge over Ibar
In the debate organised in the Northern Mitrovica municipality on August 8th, there was a small turnout of Serbian citizens, and those attending were municipal asmblists, representatives of the O The SEU and the media.
Members of the Serbian community protested last week against the reopening of the bridge over Iber.
The bridge, currently, is open only to pedestrians, even though under the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia has agreed to open up for vehicle flow as well.
Italian KFOR soldiers are located on the bridge over the Iber River, which separates Albanians in the south and Serbs in the north. Kosovo Police members are close to it as well.
Days ago KFOR said it does not want to speculate about any scenarios in the future if Kosovo institutions ask it to remove its presence from the bridge over the Iber River.
The bridge issue was also a topic of discussion between Kurti and NATO mission commander in Kosovo, KFOR, Ozkan Ulutash, late Tuesday.
After Tuesday's meeting between Kurti and Ultasis, KFOR said it is essential that all actors refrain from unilateral statements and actions that could create tensions.
