After the statement of the mayor of Mitrovica North, Goran Rakić, that the concrete wall between north and south Mitrovica will not be demolished but only redesigned with stairs which would be connected to the roundabout that will be built in the northern part, Kosovo’s Minister for Dialogue, Edita Tahiri, told Indeksonline that the wall will be removed. “It is a wall that appeared illegally. All institutions, the government and opposition are against this wall and the logic of walls,” Tahiri said.

The British Ambassador to Kosovo, Ruairi O’Connell, during a Q & A session on his Facebook page said that the wall in Mitrovica is a sensitive issue. “The wall is the issue of the week. I understand that it is a very sensitive issue. The EU has worked with both parties for years to ensure freedom of movement. I do not think that the construction of a wall helps. But I also think that the integration of Kosovo depends on many factors other than building a wall or not.”

The chairman of the Mitrovica South Assembly, Baki Imeri, has called an urgent session for Wednesday to discuss the construction of the wall near the Ibar Bridge. “The meeting will focus on the political and security situation following the construction of the wall on the other side of the Ibar Bridge,” the invitation reads.

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, said today with regards to the recently-constructed wall in Mitrovica North that Kosovo’s achievements cannot be measured in relation to a construction of a wall. In a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj, Mustafa said that the wall will be tackled through legal means and that the government is also in talks with the EU. “We will not be flexing our muscles because the law will do that. The Minister of Dialogue is in contact with the EU to see whether it is in harmony with the agreement,” Mustafa said.

The Mayor of Mitrovica, Agim Bahtiri, told the news site that the works on building the wall in northern side of Iber River have been stopped. Bahtiri also said Kosovo side is cooperating with the European Union to seek answers from Serbia for the construction of this wall. “We are consulting with government officials in Pristina, and we're looking at what should be done in the coming days. We currently managed to stop the work and we are working closely with the European Union to resolve this problem,” Bahtiri said.

Kosovo’s Minister without portfolio, Edita Tahiri, today held an urgent meeting with the government working group for Brussels agreement for the removal of the barricade of the Iber/Ibar Bridge and its revitalization. Tahiri stressed that this meeting aims to address some concerning developments in the northern part of Mitrovica related to wall that is being built in the northern side of the Iber River.

Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Đurić has cancelled the previously announced visit to Mitrovica due to “objective circumstances”.

This visit was planned due to the opening of the NIS fuel stations in the north.

Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Đurić will visit Mitrovica today on the occasion of the Liberation Day of Mitrovica.

Kosovo’s Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Arsim Bajrami, presented the students of Mitrovica University 131 diplomas verified by his ministry enabling them to be equal competitors in the Kosovo labour market and abroad. The verification process was carried out by a commission appointed by the government of Kosovo and co-funded by the European Union and the Norwegian Embassy in Pristina. Minister Bajrami said this even shows the commitment of Kosovo institutions to promoting an affirmative and inclusive approach to all communities.

Mitrovica Municipality staff led by Mayor Agim Bahtiri held a protest today calling for the immediate release of the Kosovo Police director for Mitrovica region, Nehat Thaçi, arrested last week by Serbian authorities on charges of terrorism. Bahtiri called on the government of Kosovo to suspend dialogue with Serbia until Thaçi is released from detention. “Today this is only a protest of the municipality staff but if he [Thaçi] is not released it will turn into a powerful protest”, warned Bahtiri.