The opening of the Ibër Bridge in North Mitrovica has become a hot topic of discussion between international actors and Kosovo.
The Government of Kosovo demands the bridge’s opening as a legal right of the country and for the free movement of people, but international actors argue that this should be coordinated with Serbia to avoid incidents that could lead to destabilization, not just within the country but also in the region.
In an interview with RTSH 24, analyst Arta Tahiri-Beqa from Pristina explained that international actors have changed their approach due to the evolving situation in Europe, from the war in Ukraine to Russia’s efforts to destabilize the region through Serbia.
Tahiri-Beqa stated that the Ibër Bridge should have been opened in 2017 as part of agreements between Kosovo and Serbia, with the endorsement of international actors, but this did not happen. According to her, revisiting this issue in the dialogue would effectively reset the process to square one.
“The bridge issue is a legal matter, and it is up to Kosovo to take concrete steps for its opening based on the 2015-2016 agreements. By 2017, this topic should have been closed, allowing for the free movement of citizens as a fundamental human right. However, Serbia’s efforts to create instability have led international actors to change their approach, also influenced by Russia’s role in Serbia and the war in Ukraine. International actors are now seeking understanding and balance to avoid conflicts that could destabilize the region and to prevent violent situations. The bridge issue has never been directly part of the dialogue; it was discussed once in 2017, and revisiting it now would mean starting over,” she said.
For the analyst, the timing of the bridge’s opening is being driven by Prime Minister Albin Kurti as a patriotic move to gain support ahead of the general elections in Kosovo, scheduled for February 9, 2025.
“From Kosovo’s perspective, the Ibër Bridge could be seen as an electoral maneuver. Prime Minister Kurti is leveraging populist sentiment, raising issues that are sensitive, nationalist, and patriotic. He insists on opening the bridge even without international support, to promote nationalist ideas,” she concluded.
