Mayor of North Mitrovica Goran Rakic urged the Minister of Spatial Planning in the government of Kosovo Dardan Gashi, not to test the good will of people and the management of the northern part of the city, and to solve problems peacefully and in civilized manner.
“You cannot advocate for an agreed solution and to threat. This is contradictory. I think that threats of demolishing the Peace park are part of rhetoric of the past, that are behind us and we do not want to repeat ,” said Rakic, reacting on the latest views of the outgoing Minister of Spatial Planning.
The Peace Park does not represent any threat to peace, nor does it present a blockade for people’s movement, for which authorities in Pristina say that it is a new form of barricade on the Ibar/Iber river Bridge. This proved and Deputy Prime Minister Edita Tahiri who in a company of the President of the South Mitrovica Municipal Assembly, without any problems, crossed the bridge, spent some time in the Mitrovica North had a coffee and returned to the Mitrovica South. Whether the Peace Park bothered Ms Tahiri and Agim Bahtiri to pass? No, it did not,” said Rakic.
“I condemn the rhetoric of Ms Tahiri and mu colleague Bahtiri, with which they want to explain their tour of the bridge and stay in Mitrovica North. It is unnecessary and it only adds fuel to the fire, because the Peace Park is not barricade, nor it is a ramp for freedom of movement of citizens. That’s what they proved last night,” claims Rakic.
“Their statement that they have agreed on removing the barricade (Peace Park) as an urgent issue to create peace, stability and complete freedom of movement, in accordance with the laws of the state of Kosovo and European standards, is unilateral and provocative. Because all decision concerning the organisation of the northern part of Mitrovica bring the citizens, in consultation with the Assembly and elected Mayor and without pressure and blackmail,” underlines Rakic in response.
