Soft Force and Consensus: The Way to Open the Ibër Bridge

The initiative about the opening of the Ibër Bridge is a positive development and particularly addresses a psychological phenomenon about the division of Mitrovica, and Backok Mitrovica” into our collective minds. But now the application of soft force and consensus is needed because we have a tight position around the north and opening the Ibër Bridge where QUINT/NATO and the government have a dispute that must be resolved initially.

The Kosovo government has achieved good and lasting progress about the extent of the rule of law in the north, and for that it is not receiving enough credit. This one is getting dimmed by weak diplomacy, which is unable to communicate and justify such movements in Allied, especially in the The US and the EU.

This progress in governing the law has not come without a cost. Local Serbs, on orders from official Belgrade, have been removed from public institutions in the Republic. This is not a problem to be overlooked.

The legal election of Albanian municipal mayors in Serb-dominated municipalities does not justify the lack of legitimacy. Consequently, this law-ruled progress must be cured with the integration of local Serbs into Kosovo public institutions. This is not an easy job, and the government cannot reach the police, nor can it be forced. A mild power is needed to achieve success in this regard.

Now, the situation has focused on opening Ibër Bridge. Even though the government has constitutional rights about opening that the end only unites people, businesses and communities. QUINT/NATO has come up against opening without dialogue and consensus.

The government has tried to dialogue with communities and has held meetings in the north, but this will not suffice. A reconciliation is needed with NATO/ KFOR (read US/EU). The situation is now in a bind and the application of soft force and consensus is needed to achieve further sustainable progress. This will be more challenging for the government, that it is a more complex multi-movdal operation involving the entire government, and not only the interior affairs ministry and the Kosovo police.

The three KFOR vehicles currently standing on the bridge have a huge weight. In other words, they are impassable. Those three cars can only move in with agreement and dialogue. So, the government of Kosovo can make all preparations, including the wetling of the concrete ranges, but there is no force nor opportunity to move KFOR vehicles.

In this situation, a consensus is needed. The government should not be discouraged by those cars, they are just an indicator that has yet to be done, meaning focus on (a) diplomacy, (b) dialogue and communication with communities; (c) the legitimacy of institutions and leaders; and (d) readiness to reach consensus compromises.

Therefore, the Kosovo government must expand and deepen, implementation, its strategy around the north. This has so far been only the first phase, or the creation of the conditions for implementation of the strategy. The application of soft force is already needed, and this means the focus in the economy, business, investment, technology, infrastructure, communication and dialogue, opportunity and genuine commitment for opportunities and better life for communities there.

All this requires a holistic approach with multi-diplinary programmes that bring prosperity to all communities there. It probably needs finance, a few billion to invest, but that's not a problem.

As for opening the Ibër Bridge, a compromise election with NATO/ QU INT, may be the realisation of South Square in the North, which could be called “Elon Musk Square” Elon Musk because everyone must look to the future and put aside the differences and troubles of history.

Elon Mousk Square also because the paradigma needs to be changed. There is no economy yet, policy and security problems have not allowed much to develop. And now we need to invest and focus on technology, innovation, green industry and information... on Artificial Intelligence.

That area needs to be transformed into a modern business center where innovation centers, business inspectors, business parks. There young people and communities can work and don't give a shit about politics. If we offer people good living conditions and jobs and prospects, they forget the poisonous nationalism of the Balkans.

Moreover, that area has a lot of potential for sports, music, art, festivals... for tourism policies and industry and rural development. With strategic investments, these can take on momentum and identity in order to create a unique local and regional economy that at the centre has modern business development and acceleration.

This type of strategy is not achieved soon and within day or month. It's probably something medium-term and long-term, but I have to start now. This is the soft force that must apply. To lure communities through better opportunities and create a stable perspective for them. So all bridges will be opened.

Above all, communities will understand the benefits and power of peace. They'll understand how stability brings prosperity and a better future. And when that vision is created and implemented, then none of the communities will allow the north to be endangered. People will have something to protect peace and stability.