Kosovo’s acting Defense Minister Ejup Maqedonci has said the gradual adjustment of KFOR’s presence, including changes to its deployment at the main bridge over the Iber River in Mitrovica, reflects an improvement in Kosovo’s security situation and the strengthening of local security institutions.
In a statement on Facebook accompanied by a photograph of the bridge, Maqedonci said the changes were based on professional assessments of conditions on the ground and did not represent a reduction in security for any community or citizen in Kosovo.
“Over the years, Kosovo has built professional and reliable security institutions, while close cooperation and coordination with KFOR and international partners continues,” Maqedonci said, stressing that the security of all citizens, regardless of ethnicity, remains a priority for Kosovo’s institutions.
He also rejected claims by Serbia’s political leadership that the optimization of KFOR’s presence represents a threat to the Kosovo Serb community or evidence of instability.
According to Maqedonci, such claims seek to create a perception of crisis that is not supported by professional security assessments.
He linked Serbia’s criticism to other recent developments, including findings related to a mass grave in Kaludra, the discovery of weapons and equipment at several locations in northern Kosovo, and actions by Kosovo institutions targeting alleged Serbian intelligence networks and other activities described as subversive.
Maqedonci said the region needs transparency, accountability and respect for facts rather than narratives that fuel fear and tensions.
“The Republic of Kosovo is not a source of destabilization. Kosovo is a democratic state, a reliable partner of the United States, NATO and our allies, and an actor that contributes to security and stability in the region,” he said.
He added that Kosovo would continue strengthening its security capabilities in close coordination with KFOR and its strategic partners.
The status of the main bridge over the Iber River remains a politically sensitive issue, particularly amid disagreements between Prishtina and Belgrade over security arrangements and the movement of people and vehicles between the northern and southern parts of Mitrovica.
Maqedonci’s comments come as Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has urged NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte not to support the opening of the bridge, arguing that such a move could endanger Kosovo Serbs.
