Serbian lawyer Čedomir Stojković has stated that the barricades on the Ibër Bridge are sending a false message to the Serbs in northern Kosovo, suggesting that “the territory of northern Kosovo will be integrated into Serbia rather than Kosovo.” He believes that through these barricades, Serbian authorities are keeping the Serbs living in northern Kosovo under control and manipulation.
“This is the only reason why the authorities in Belgrade want these barricades to continue. The interests of the Serbs in Kosovo are not their focus. The real interest of the Serbs in Kosovo is to equalize their rights with those of European citizens, and this can only be achieved by: Kosovo joining the Council of Europe and all international organizations; the acceptance of both Kosovo and Serbia into the European Union,” he wrote on X.
Stojković says that the closure of the bridge hinders European heritage and that the views imposed by the Serbian authorities in this regard come at a very high cost.
“The barricades on the bridge obstruct these processes and do not represent either the heritage of Europe, the heritage of the European Union, nor are they a reflection of the desired future for Serbs in Serbia or for Serbs in northern Kosovo. The wrong ideas imposed by the authorities in Belgrade in this regard have a great cost, which is reflected in the impoverishment of the region, especially in northern Kosovo, because where the conflict is frozen, the economy is also frozen. And where there are still barricades on bridges – there are also barricades for investment and economic development,” he concludes.
In recent days, there have been varying positions from international actors and the Government of Kosovo regarding the opening of the Ibër Bridge. According to some experts, there has never been a more favorable moment for its opening.
