Charles Kupchan, former director of European affairs at the U.S. National Security Council, states that Kosovo has the right to unilaterally open the Ibër Bridge.
However, the professor of International Relations at Georgetown University in Washington says that if Kosovo aims to normalize relations with Serbia, it is better to resolve this issue at the Brussels negotiation table.
“Although Kosovo has the right to exercise sovereignty and unilaterally open the Ibër River bridge, since Prishtina ultimately seeks to normalize relations with Belgrade, it is better to act through the dialogue process,” said Kupchan.
Kupchan also noted that Kosovo and Serbia are dealing with a difficult and prolonged dispute that needs de-escalation.
“In a dispute of this nature, unilateral actions tend to backfire and hinder progress, not improve the situation,” Kupchan added in an interview with Kallxo.
The situation in Kosovo has been tense in recent weeks following the insistence of Kosovar authorities to open the Ibër Bridge, which divides North Mitrovica from South Mitrovica.
The opening of the bridge at this time is being opposed by the international community. However, such criticisms have not swayed the stance of Kosovo’s state leaders.
The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, stated that the security assessments made together with their allies are not extraordinary, but nearly identical to most other assessments, and that the U.S. has never asked for the Ibër Bridge not to be opened.
“That bridge should never have been closed. It was closed for entirely political reasons. The bridge must absolutely be opened, but we must ensure that once it is opened, it remains open. We do not want to open it only to provoke a much larger NATO presence there,” Osmani said today at a press conference.
