The American Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeff Hovenier, said on Friday that the main Western countries and NATO do not support the goals for opening the main bridge over the Iber River, which marks the dividing line between the two municipalities of Mitrovica, the one in the north inhabited by a majority of Serbs. and the south inhabited by an Albanian majority.
Ambassador Hovenier made these comments after a meeting of Western diplomats with the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti.
“The representatives of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States, together with the ambassador of the European Union, met today with Prime Minister Kurti to inform him that our governments in consultation with NATO cannot support any change in the current status of the Mitrovica bridge at this time“, the ambassador is Hovenier.
The bridge, which is controlled by the peacekeeping forces led by NATO, is open only for the movement of pedestrians but not for cars, although according to the agreements reached within the Kosovo-Serbia talks, it had to be opened.
The Government of Kosovo said in a communiqué that it has presented to Western diplomats the plan for the opening of the bridge, which, it is said, foresees tests for its infrastructural stability, assessment of risk and risks from natural disasters, revitalization by providing access to the bridge to all, discussions with citizens and interest groups as well as a comprehensive information campaign on the benefits and goals of opening the bridge.
“Consultations and coordination continue. As stated in the European Union's plan for the revitalization of the bridge, the Mitrovica bridge over the Iber will become a symbol of the normalization of relations in Kosovo.“, says the announcement, which emphasizes that the bridge must be opened and that it is at the service of everyone and is not against anyone.
“Freedom of movement and the rule of law do not endanger peace and security, on the contrary. The bridge is a symbol of free movement, which is a fundamental value and freedom of the European Union. The bridge is a symbol of integration, which is the joint work of Kosovo with our partners. The government is for both free movement and integration of citizens“, the announcement states.
But the possibility of opening the bridge has been opposed by Lista Serbe, the main party of Kosovo Serbs founded and supported by Belgrade.
The European Union has reiterated on several occasions that the bridge issue should be resolved within the framework of the talks in Brussels.
On Thursday, the president of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, said that such a thing would be a serious violation of the country's sovereignty, territorial integrity and constitutionality.
“(Serbian President Aleksandar) Vucic has nothing to ask when the bridges will be opened for traffic in the Republic of Kosovo. The only dialogue that should take place is the one within Kosovo, between our institutions and our security partners (especially with NATO) in order to build the joint implementation plan for opening the bridge for any traffic, which has taking into account security assessments and the interests of our citizens”, President Osmani wrote.
