KFOR announced the request for the opening of the bridge over the Ibar between North and South Mitrovica

Regarding the initiative to open the main bridge on the Ibar connecting the municipalities of North and South Mitrovica, KFOR says that this issue must be resolved through political dialogue.

“The reopening of the bridge is an issue that must be resolved through political dialogue. The NATO mission, KFOR, continues to monitor local developments and remains fully focused on the day-to-day implementation of its mandate, based on Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999, to ensure a safe environment and free movement for all communities in Kosovo,” they said. from KFOR for RTV Dukađini, transmitted by Gazeta Ekspres (Gazzeta Express).

After the North Mitrovica Municipal Assembly made a decision by a large majority of councilors on the request to the central authorities to allow motor traffic over the main bridge on the Ibar, which is currently guarded by carabinieri. Pedestrians can walk freely on this bridge. The opening of the bridge was also supported by the Government of Kosovo.

This point was put on the agenda by the proposal of the MP for Self-determination Aida Ferati-Doli, who requested that the request be forwarded to the central Pristina authorities, KFOR and EULEX.

The topic of the main bridge over the Ibar, which, as the scene of numerous inter-ethnic conflicts in the first years of the war, was one of the neuralgic points of separation between the two communities, has dominated the political scene for years. It was also put into special focus of the public after the launch of the so-called of the Brussels process.

Agreement on the so-called revitalization of the bridge was achieved in August 2016 and is part of the Brussels dialogue. Work on the bridge itself began in the middle of the same month. Although it was announced that the bridge would be fully open to traffic by January 20, 2017, this did not happen, and this bridge is still only used by pedestrians.

The opening of the bridge has been postponed on several occasions, while at the same time new dates for its opening have been announced on several occasions, writes KoSSev.