Stradner: Warnings of opening Ibër Bridge, Aleksandar Vulin, will visit Russia this week

This visit according to it takes place at just a time when Serbian authorities have warned “kaos” in Kosovo, connecting with government statements about the possibility of opening the Ibri Bridge.

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

According to Stradner, Voulin is expected to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu.

At the same time, the official Russian Foreign Ministry magazine continues to warn of a possible conflict in the Balkans.

Meanwhile, Serbia's President Aleksandar Vuciq, at a news conference days ago, has expressed concern that the bridge over the Iber River could be “violent” on August 14th or 15th.

Let me tell you right away that it won't work”, Vuciq said without specifically referring to any agency.

Stradner, during an interview for “Radio Free Europe” in the Serbian language, has warned of a second “rade” of escalation of tensions in Kosovo, especially in northern Kosovo, the area inhabited mainly by ethnic Serbs.

Kosovo authorities have already launched inspections for the opening of the bridge. Prior to its opening for the flow of vehicles, the Kosovo government aims to test “the owner of the bridge structure”.

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 also said that official Pristina should not take the unilateral “decisions”.

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

Kosovo authorities have started to do inspections for the opening of the bridge, and earlier in the week, they have contracted a company to assess the bridge holder's power before opening for vehicle circulation.

Kosovo and Serbia have agreed to open the bridge, first in 2015, later in 2016, under the dialogue mediating the European Union.

Its opening has stalled several times, and the international factor requires that dialogue be again. /Telegraphy/

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin will be in Moscow this week to meet with Lavrov, Shoigu...

Interesting keeping...as Serbian government has offended chaos in Kosovo this week.

Meanwhile... Russian MFA journal continues to gasplight about a conflict in the Balkans. Pic.twitter. com/ CHIFBSXy

) Ivana Stradner (@ivanastradner) August 11, 2024