Deputy Prime Minister and head of the negotiating team in the dialogue with Serbia, Besnik Bislimi, has stated that the European Union is threatening Kosovo with additional measures if the bridge over the Iber River in Mitrovica is opened for vehicle traffic.
In a post on the social platform X, Bislimi mentioned that EU Special Representative for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajčak, during his visit to Kosovo on June 19, where the issue of the Iber Bridge was discussed among other topics, had said that if Kosovo does not prefer to discuss this matter again in Brussels, he recommends holding internal discussions with local Serbs.
“During his recent visit to Kosovo on June 19, when we discussed the Mitrovica Bridge, Lajčak said that if Kosovo does not wish to revisit this issue in Brussels, he recommends internal discussions with local Serbs in the north about potential security implications and their concerns. A QUINT partner added the request for a technical inspection. We have followed both recommendations.”
“Now the EU is threatening Kosovo if it implements the EU-mediated agreement and additional recommendations. We strongly believe that the EU promotes more freedom of movement and fewer borders or walls between different ethnicities,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of the country, Albin Kurti, during today’s Government meeting, spoke about the main issue of the Ibar River bridge, stating that his Government will continue consultations and coordination with international partners. He added that opening the bridge is not against anyone, and even less against Kosovo’s partners.
On the other hand, the U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, said on Tuesday that there is a real risk associated with the opening of the bridge in Mitrovica at this time, which could affect the safety of NATO troops, including American soldiers.
The U.S. Department of State also reacted to this issue.
