“Community/ Association of Serbian municipalities will be the foundation of survival of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, because for the first time all areas with Serbian majority will be united and will act uniquely. There will be no division on areas south and north of the Ibar/Iber River.” This is how Goran Rakic, Mayor of Mitrovica North explains his view of the agreement on the Community/ Association of Serbian municipalities (ZSO), reached in Brussels. He believes that the establishment of the ZSO with the agreed competencies will enable the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija to legally and legitimately solve its daily problems and national interests.

“In such a way, the ZSO will make decisions about the vital interests of the Serbian community in terms of economic development, spatial planning as well as health and education. It is very important that the ZSO will be directly financed by the Republic of Serbia,” said Rakic.

Are you satisfied with the part of the agreement related to the bridge over the Ibar/Iber River and do you expect problems in its implementation? 

The most important thing is that the bridge will not be opened until the assessment of the possible security risks. In addition to the solutions for the bridge, the agreement also includes demarcation of the cadastral zone in Brdjani area.

How will you protect the citizens from the possible incidents? 

The agreement will be implemented in phases. On 15 October the bridge will be completely closed due to preparations for construction work that will start in the spring. The bridge will be secured with the building fence. The flower pots and concrete blocks on the northern side will not be moved, so that the inhabitants of the northern part of the city would be protected from potential incidents. The bridge will be opened for traffic only when security situation will be good. The ZSO will bring decision on the vital interests of the Serbian areas in cooperation with the Mayor of Mitrovica south.