QU INT counters, Government with notice after the meeting: Bridge needs to be opened, consultations and co-ordination continue

Prime Minister Albin Kurti has hosted the meeting of QUINT ambassadors and chief of the EU Office in Kosovo. They went to the Government to deliver Kurt's message that they do not support the opening of the bridge at this time.

The government through an announcement has said the bridge should be opened and that consultations are continuing, while adding its stance that this launch is not against anyone but for freedom of movement.

“Consultations and coordinates continue. As the European Union's plan for revising the bridge says, the Mitrovica Bridge on Iber will become a symbol of normalisation of relations in Kosovo. The same plan says that its “revistisation will greatly contribute to facilitating contacts between all citizens of North and South Mitrovica and will thus contribute to exchange and understanding”. So the bridge has to open. She's in service to everyone, and she's not against anyone. Freedom of movement and rule of law do not endanger peace and security, on the contrary. The bridge is a symbol of free movement, which is the fundamental value and freedom of the European Union. The bridge is a symbol of integration, which is Kosovo's common business with our partners. The government is also for free movement and for the integration of citizens”, it says.

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Prime Minister Kurti met with QUINT state ambassadors and chief of European Union Office in Kosovo

Republika Srpska Prime Minister Albin Kurti, accompanied by First Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi and Minister of Internal Affairs Xhelal Svechla, met today with US Ambassador Jeffrey Hovenier, France's Ambassador Olivier Guérot, Italy's Ambassador Antonello De Riu, chief of the European Union's Office in Kosovo, Tomákel Szunyog, U.K. Deputy Ambassador Paul O'Connor and Germany's deputy ambassador, Mattias Conrad.

They discussed domestic developments and current themes. The prime minister announced with the results of employment and welfare policies in the four Serb majority municipalities in the country's north -- namely, with the move “The government for Families”, under which the employment of 231 persons has so far been brokered and supported in these municipalities. While citizens' interest in the ranks of the non-Serb community to be equipped with the documents of the Republic of Kosovo has marked increases in the last quarter of last year, and especially in the first six months of this year, as evidence of their will and concern for sustainable integration.

This meeting was held today just eight years after discussions were held on August 2nd 2016 in Brussels regarding the implementation of the Mitrovica Bridge Agreement under dialogue in Brussels, which was then followed by the European Union Plan for the opening of the Mitrovica Trust Bridge and two-way vehicles. Prime Minister Kurti presented diplomatic representatives of the QUINT and EU states with the Government's plan to open the Mitrovica bridge over the Iber River. The plan envisions tests for the bridge's infrastructure stability, risk assessment and risks from natural disasters, visual revitation of the bridge access to the bridge for all, discussions with citizens and interest groups, and the comprehensive information campaign on the benefits and purposes of opening the bridge.

Consultations and coordination continue. As the European Union's plan for revising the bridge says, the Mitrovica Bridge on Iber will become a symbol of normalisation of relations in Kosovo. The same plan says that its <x0 realisation will greatly contribute to facilitating contacts between all citizens of North and South Mitrovica and will thus contribute to exchange and understanding”. So the bridge has to open. She's in service to everyone, and she's not against anyone. Freedom of movement and rule of law do not endanger peace and security, on the contrary.

The bridge is a symbol of free movement, which is the fundamental value and freedom of the European Union. The bridge is a symbol of integration, which is Kosovo's common business with our partners.

The government is also for free movement and citizens integration.