Kosovo's acting Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, said that the country's institutions are in constant communication with KFOR regarding the full opening of the main bridge over the Ibar River and its "complete takeover" by the Kosovo Police.
"We are in daily communication, both with the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, so that everything goes smoothly and peacefully," Kurti said during a media conference on August 22, when asked when the main bridge in Mitrovica is expected to open.
He said that on Saturday afternoon there will be a meeting with KFOR Commander Ozgan Ulutaş, while describing it as "absurd" that the bridge continues to be closed.
"We must remember that after the construction of the new bridges, it has become absurd to keep that bridge closed, and the fact that citizens have freely circulated across these new bridges and there has been no increase in either incidents or tensions, shows that the circulation of people and goods, the ever-increasing freedom of movement, is beneficial not only for the economy, but also for peace and security," Kurti stressed.
The main bridge over the Ibar is open to pedestrians, but not to vehicles. Since the end of the war, NATO's peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR, has been monitoring the bridge, which has been a flashpoint for inter-ethnic clashes for years. However, KFOR recently announced the start of a gradual withdrawal from the bridge, following improvements in the security situation, which has angered Serbia.
Kurti's comments come after a NATO official told Radio Free Europe on August 20 that any decision on the possible reopening of this bridge to vehicle traffic must "address the needs of all local communities."
"KFOR also continues to provide the necessary security support so that the European Union's diplomatic efforts can move forward," the NATO official said.
Serbia has opposed KFOR's plans to reduce its presence on the bridge. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has written a letter to NATO chief Mark Rutte, urging him to stop the process.
"I just sent a letter to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, demanding that KFOR, in accordance with UN Resolution 1244, stop the terror against Serbs, their persecution and arrests, the demolition of houses, as well as the opening of the bridge over the Ibar," Vučić wrote on Instagram on August 20.
According to Vučić, the withdrawal of KFOR from the bridge at this moment would "create conditions for a final confrontation with the Serbian population" in northern Kosovo.
But acting Defense Minister Ejup Maqedonci said Serbia's efforts to present the prospect of KFOR's presence as a "threat to the Serbian community" or as evidence that the situation in Kosovo is unstable "do not match the reality on the ground."
He accused Serbia of trying to divert attention from the discovery of mass graves in northern Kosovo, the discovery of weapons near locations where mortal remains were found, and Kosovo's actions against suspected Serbian intelligence networks and subversive activities against Kosovo.
“This is a process [the KFOR optimization process] based on professional assessments of the situation on the ground and does not represent a reduction in security for any citizen or community in Kosovo,” said Maqedonci.
The gradual withdrawal of NATO troops from the bridge is part of the process of optimizing KFOR's positioning, which is being carried out with full transparency, the alliance official said, adding that this process could be undone, depending on the security situation.
"KFOR will have a visible presence in North and South Mitrovica as well as in northern Kosovo and continue to contribute to a safe environment for all," the NATO official said in a response to REL.
The Kosovo government had announced in July 2024 the opening of the main bridge over the Ibar River to vehicle traffic, an initiative that caused tensions and reactions from the international community.
Meanwhile, the Kosovo executive has built two more bridges next to the main bridge – one for pedestrians and one for vehicles – with the aim of connecting North Mitrovica with South Mitrovica. The main bridge over the Ibar River is considered one of the most sensitive points in terms of security in northern Kosovo./REL
