The opening of the Ibar Bridge in Mitrovica is a matter that should be treated seriously, according to Deputy Prime Minister Donika Gërvalla.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister, who is also the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, strengthening sovereignty without increasing risk is the most productive strategy for the executive.
She warns of positive steps on this issue but adds that they are aware they should not jeopardize the country’s security.
On the other hand, the opening of the Ibar Bridge is also welcomed by the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, but they emphasize the need for coordination with allies, expressing doubts that this decision is being made for electoral agendas. Meanwhile, political analysts urge the government to open the bridge without much political noise, despite noting that the stability of the Serbian community in the north is not as it used to be.
Donika Gërvalla does not reveal when the government will take action to open the bridge, stating that when there is movement, citizens will see it.
“Both the bridge issue and other issues must be treated seriously by our institutions, both local and central. The strategy of this government in strengthening sovereignty without increasing risk is the most productive strategy we have seen in the last 25 years. We must continue to make positive steps, while being very aware that we should not jeopardize our territory, citizens, and security institutions. When there is movement, you will witness it and see it,” she says.
The opening of the Ibar Bridge, which connects South Mitrovica inhabited by Albanians and North Mitrovica inhabited by Serbs, is also considered necessary by the head of the AAK Parliamentary Group, Besnik Tahiri.
However, he raises doubts that this move is being made for electoral agendas. Despite this, Tahiri calls for coordination with the United States to ensure there is no backtracking on this decision.
“When the government takes an action, the first question that arises is why we are taking this action. What is the purpose? Is the purpose to show the people before the elections that we are taking actions in the north because nothing has been done? Or is the goal to truly strengthen our integrity and sovereignty in that part? To do this, we need cooperation and coordination with the United States initially. The bridge must be opened, but when it is opened, the state cannot backtrack.
I do not have a problem with the opening of the bridge because it must be opened. The United States and other countries need to help us open the bridge. But my problem is that they make a decision about license plates and then backtrack, they make a decision about elections and then organize them again. My problem is opening the bridge and then KFOR saying you can’t cross, where does our sovereignty and integrity stand?” declares Tahiri.
Meanwhile, political analyst Dritëro Arifi states that he does not expect much pressure from international allies to prevent the opening of the Ibar Bridge, despite the QUINT countries and KFOR stating that now is not the time to open the bridge.
He says the opening of the Ibar Bridge is more a matter of humanity and human rights, and therefore it should be given the green light.
“The Government of Kosovo should quietly take this action, open the bridge without much noise. The great pressure that might exist is not as it was before, but the stability of the Serbian community is also not as it was before. In a way, it is a favorable position, but it must be done with careful steps. The opening of the bridge will happen very soon because it is more a matter of humanity and human rights than creating problems. I think it will bring the Serbian community closer to integrating into Kosovo institutions. It should be done with awareness and cooperation so that when the bridge is opened, there are no protests or adverse effects or any verbal note from European partners,” emphasizes Arifi.
The revitalization of the Ibar Bridge was foreseen in the agreement on freedom of movement reached between Kosovo and Serbia in 2015 in Brussels. Although the works with multi-million investments from the EU were completed six years ago, the bridge remains closed to vehicles.
Despite this, the EU has stated that now is not the time to open the bridge for security reasons.
Today marks ten years since the removal of the barricades on the Ibar Bridge in Mitrovica, placed by parallel Serbian structures.
