The Office of the Prime Minister of Kosovo, namely its public information office, issued a press release today about the result of talks between delegations from Pristina and Belgrade in Brussels on the issue of barricades in Mitrovica. During the meeting, EU representative Fernando Gentilini confirmed the position of the EU that barricades must be removed, freedom of movement must be secured for all and that Kosovo laws and agreements need to be fully implemented.
Kosovo’s outgoing Deputy Prime Minister Edita Tahiri assured all communities in Mitrovica that barricades will be removed and that the Iber/Ibar Bridge will be a national road, as it always has been, and that freedom of movement will be guaranteed for all communities. After several-hour discussions and following a proposal by the EU, parties agreed that barricades must be removed and the Bridge needs to be revitalized in a gradual process that will see direct engagement by the EU, including financial aid for projects aimed at improving the lives of all Mitrovica residents. The EU plan presented by the EU representative in Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar, and agreed upon by all parties, includes:
1. Respect for the laws of the state of Kosovo
2. Technical assessment of the sustainability of the Iber/Ibar Bridge construction, and
3. A project for the revitalization and restoration of the Iber/Ibar Bridge.
In September, experts contracted by the EU will announce the assessment results before proceeding with the revitalization and full functionalization of the Iber/Ibar Bridge in the service of freedom of movement.
Parties also agreed to extend the moratorium that forbids any construction or placing of barricades and if the moratorium is not respected the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo will react with the force of law.
During the meeting, Agim Bahtiri, mayor of southern Mitrovica, said the situation at the bridge should return to normal as soon as possible and that the municipality will do its best to cooperate with the Government of the Republic of Kosovo and the EU in implementing the EU plan for freedom of movement and in the interest of all residents. Mitrovica North mayor Goran Rakic said he would cooperate in normalizing the situation and implementing the EU plan. He also agreed that the plan is in the interest of all Mitrovica residents.
