Construction works on revitalisation of Mitrovicë/Mitrovica Bridge launched
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
As of Sunday, the so-called “Peace Park”, that divided the town of Mitrovicë/Mitrovica into south and north, will no longer exist.
The Agreement that was reached a year ago in Brussels on the freedom of movement, commenced to be implemented only on this Sunday, with the launch of the construction work on the main bridge over Ibër River.
With two months of delay, the European Union started the construction works on the removal of the barricade.
Mayor of Mitrovicë/Mitrovica South municipality, Agim Bahtiri went to the site on Sunday to make sure that everything is going as planned. Mayor Bahtiri justified the absence of his counterpart from the north, Goran Rakic, saying that the latter is currently abroad.
Bahtiri emphasized that this bridge will be opened by January of next year.
Albanian citizens, who lived with the barricade for years, hope that the removal will improve and facilitate their relations with the Serbs. Serbs from the north also share the same opinion; they want a life without incidents.
Besides the revitalisation of the bridge, the main road in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North will be reconstructed and will be turned into a pedestrian zone; respectively a square and it will be called ‘King Peter’.
This project will be funded by the European Union and the construction works will be carried out by a company that has been contracted by the EU.
Construction works are expected to be completed within 5 months and this part will be open for circulation by 20th of January 2017.
Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli and Minister for Dialogue Edita Tahiri welcomed the start of the works on revitalisation of Ibër Bridge.
Srpska List also reacted on the revitalisation of the Ibër Bridge. Through a press release issued, Srpska List stated that with the revitalisation of Ibër Bridge, the northern part will have a modern traffic and an increased security for residents of this part of the town. Srpska List emphasized that the bridge will not be open for traffic until ‘King Peter’ street is turned into a pedestrian zone. According to them, a KFOR checkpoint will be placed there which will fulfil Belgrade’s condition stipulated in the talks with Kosovo in Brussels, Klan Kosova reported.
Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) reacted against the revitalisation of the Bridge. DSS representatives said that the revitalisation puts at stake the safety of Kosovo Serbs. According to them, over 1.000 incidents have happened during the time that the bridge was opened.
EU welcomes the start of construction work on Mitrovcë/Mitrovica Bridge
(KTV)
The European Union Office in Kosovo commended the start of the work for revitalisation of the Bridge over Ibër River, saying that this will greatly contribute to facilitating contacts between the people in the north of Kosovo.
“Mitrovicë/Mitrovica Bridge will become a symbol of normalisation of relations between communities in Kosovo. The Mitrovicë/Mitrovica Bridge is expected to open for pedestrians and for vehicles in both directions in line with the recommendations of the technical assessment and the architectural design both sides agreed in June 2015”, reads a press release issued by the EU Office.
According to the press release, the Mayor of Mitrovicë/Mitrovica South and the Mayor of Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North together with a working group will regularly monitor and review the prevailing political and security conditions in the municipalities during and after the revitalisation process.
Djuric: Kosovo and Serbia to discuss establishment of Association
(KTV)
The Director of the Serbian Government Office for Kosovo, Marko Djuric announced that Kosovo and Serbia delegations will resume the dialogue in Brussels on Monday. According to him, they will discuss about the establishment of the Association of Serb Majority municipalities.
Djuric, told Serbian public broadcaster, that Kosovo and Serbia will discuss also about the telecommunication, or as he said, functioning of the Serb Telecom in Kosovo.
“Establishment of the Association is very important and the main topic, however functioning of the Serbian telecom in Kosovo is also important”, he said.
On the other hand, Kosovo Minister for Dialogue Edita Tahiri, through a press released issue on Sunday, before her departure to Brussels, expressed her confidence that Monday’s meeting might produce final results as it regards Kosovo’s telephony code.
As it regards the Association, according to Djuric, Prishtinë/Pristina has not done anything to implement that part of the Brussels agreement.
Commenting the launch of the construction works for revitalisation of Ibër Bridge, Djuric said that the bridge cannot be opened until ‘King Peter’ street in the north is turned into a pedestrian zone.
“The bridge will not be opened until a static KFOR checkpoint is placed there along with the presence of Serb members of Kosovo Police near the bridge in the northern part” Djuric said.
A Serb suspect attempts to damage the minaret of a Gjilan/Gnijlan mosque
(KTV)
A Kosovo Serb entered the mosque in village Velekincë of Gjilan/Gnijlan municipality, while the Muslim believers were praying. He climbed to the top of the minaret and started to damage it. Eyewitnesses told to the correspondent of “Koha” in Gjilan/Gnijlan that the suspect besides damaging the minaret attempted to place also Orthodox symbols, namely the cross, the online version of KTV reported.
According to the witnesses, Muslim believers on the mosque reacted and seized the perpetrator of this vandal act. The perpetrator resisted and received body injuries.
The intervention of Kosovo Police was necessary, who escorted this citizen to the Emergency clinic where he is receiving the medical treatment, while being under arrest.
The spokesperson of Kosovo Police, Ismet Hashani confirmed the arrest.
