KFOR says: All decisions regarding the bridge on the Ibar should be made within the framework of the dialogue

KFOR told Radio Free Europe that the mission continues to implement its UN mandate to ensure a safe environment for all people living in Kosovo and Metohija, at all times and impartially, and that this includes their constant presence on the bridge in Kosovska Mitrovica and patrols in the surrounding areas.

"Any decision regarding the bridge in Mitrovica must be made within the EU-mediated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, which NATO continues to support, including through the efforts of KFOR," said KFOR.

As Radio Free Europe reports, during the session of the North Mitrovica Municipal Assembly, the councilors of Self-Determination requested the implementation of the decision from April last year to open to traffic the main bridge over the Ibar River, which divides the city into the southern and northern parts.

EU spokesman Peter Stano said today that any decisions regarding the bridge on the Ibar in Kosovska Mitrovica should be made within the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina in Brussels.

The Serb list yesterday, after the deputy director of the so-called Kosovo Police for the North, Veton Elshani, stated that the bridge will be opened for traffic very soon, called on KFOR, EULEX and Brussels to prevent prime minister of the temporary institutions of Pristina, Albin Kurti, from opening the bridge on the Ibar to vehicles as this would cause another crisis in the north of Kosovo, and to stop his plan for the persecution of Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija.

The bridge over the Ibar divides Kosovska Mitrovica into the southern part of the city, where Albanians live, and the northern part, where mostly Serbs live. It was the site of several clashes between Serbs and Albanians trying to cross to the northern part of the city, and the bridge is still guarded today by Italian Carabinieri from KFOR.