Warnings from the European Union that punitive measures against Kosovo may be expanded, as mentioned in the event of continued unilateral and uncoordinated actions in the north, are being taken seriously by political analysts. However, such a possibility is being qualified as a deepening of injustice by the government of Kosovo.
According to them, the measures are not a solution, while they emphasize that the opening of the main bridge over the Ibër River is a matter of full freedom of movement, the rule of law, and respect for agreements made in Brussels.
The spokesperson of the Government of Kosovo, Përparim Kryeziu, told KosovaPress that the EU and the US should support Kosovo, especially in the field of the rule of law and the respect of agreements reached in Brussels.
According to him, the closure of the nine Serbian Post offices that operated without licenses and illegally in the north is a matter of the rule of law. Meanwhile, the opening of the Mitrovica bridge over the Ibër River is a matter of full freedom of movement and a direct contribution to the further integration of citizens.
“Measures are not a solution. Time has shown that the EU’s measures against Kosovo have been unfair. They continue to be so as long as they are in force. Increasing them would only deepen the injustice. On the other hand, the question arises what measures the EU took against Serbia, which after the terrorist and paramilitary attack declared a National Day of Mourning for the three terrorists killed in Banjska, whose leader, Milan Radoičić, they shelter and finance? We need the support of the EU but also of the United States of America, especially in the field of the rule of law and the respect of agreements reached in Brussels. The closure of the nine Serbian Post offices that operated without licenses and illegally is a matter of the rule of law. Meanwhile, the opening of the Mitrovica bridge over the Ibër River is a matter of full freedom of movement, the rule of law, and respect for the agreements made in Brussels since 2015, as well as a direct contribution to the further integration of our citizens,” Kryeziu’s response states.
However, political analyst Albinot Maloku says that the EU’s warnings about increasing punitive measures should be taken seriously by the Government of Kosovo.
Maloku: Increasing punitive measures against Kosovo would be harmful
“It is not in Kosovo’s interest to damage relations in this situation, where we only face isolation and have measures from the European Union, which have been warned could increase. This increase in measures by the EU is part of the EU’s criticism as a mediating factor in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue and damages Kosovo and its integration goals,” he emphasizes.
He adds that the Ibër bridge should be opened, but in full coordination with Kosovo’s international allies, especially the United States of America.
Maloku: The Ibër bridge should be opened, but in full coordination with allies
“The government’s insistence on making the bridge over the Ibër River operational for vehicle movement is more for political consumption. Regarding the bridge issue, there was an agreement, and it should have been insisted upon and called upon the Republic of Kosovo, so that the same does not create conflict between Kosovo and the international factor with a special emphasis,” Maloku states.
During this week, final tests of the Ibër bridge’s load-bearing capacity were conducted, as a step towards its opening for vehicle traffic.
The international community has opposed the opening of the Ibër bridge, demanding a new discussion in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue for its opening.
Meanwhile, members of the Serbian community in the north protested on Wednesday, opposing the opening of the bridge.
