The Commander of the NATO-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo, Major General Enrico Barduani, stated that the closure of the bridge in Mitrovica is a political issue, and any decision regarding it must be made through dialogue in Brussels.
At the end of his mandate as head of KFOR, General Barduani also spoke about security developments in northern Kosovo and the mission’s role in maintaining stability and peace. He emphasized that Serbia is fully aware of the “red lines” in Kosovo, which are clearly defined by the UN Security Council Resolution.
“Let me stress that the red lines you refer to are those defined in the UN Security Council Resolution, with a particular reference to the relationship between KFOR and the Serbian military authorities. They are written in the Military Technical Agreement signed between NATO and Serbia in 1999. I can add that our mission remains focused on contributing to a safe and stable environment for all people and communities living in Kosovo,” he said.
He further underlined that those responsible for the 2023 Banjska attack, including the assault on KFOR troops, must be brought to justice.
“…Unfortunately, Belgrade and Pristina have made no significant progress in normalizing their relations for quite some time. Even during my mandate, I have seen the direct security implications of the current deadlock in dialogue. We cannot exclude the possibility that the lack of meaningful dialogue risks turning political issues into security issues,” Barduani stated in an interview with RTV21.
