KOSOVSKA MITROVICA - Several people have been injured and a number of cars set on fire in the riots that broke out during the protest of ethnic Albanians at the southern side of the main bridge in Kosovska Mitrovica on Sunday, over the Peace Park being built at the bridge. Ethnic Albanians gathered around 3 p.m. CET near the main bridge over the Ibar River in the southern part of Kosovska Mitrovica, chanting “U-C-K'' (Albanian language acronym for the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army) and waving Albanian and U.S.

KFOR has commended the engagement of the Kosovo Police during yesterday’s protest in Mitrovica. According to a press communiqué from KFOR, Kosovo Police was able to stop a large protest, while showing great professionalism, efficiency and an ability to manage the situation. It adds that KFOR has stationed a team of US KFOR troops in the middle of the bridge over the Iber/Ibar River, and Italian military police in the northern part of the bridge. Another team of German soldiers was also summoned to intervene, when some elements started to use force.

Kosovo’s Interior Minister Bajram Rexhepi said that the reaction of the Kosovo Police to yesterday’s protest in Mitrovica was “excellent”. Regarding the new barricade on the Iber/Ibar River, Rexhepi said the Kosovo government is committed to resolving the issue through dialogue. “We are coordinating with Brussels and Washington. We expect them to put pressure on Belgrade to remove the barricade. If this does not happen, we will remove it ourselves in the coming days”, Rexhepi told Klan Kosova.

The Kosovo government, through a press release, called on protesters to show calm, maturity and restraint. The press release adds that the new barricade over the Iber/Ibar River will be removed soon, in accordance with the laws of Kosovo and the Brussels agreement for the normalization of relations between Pristina and Belgrade. Meanwhile, Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga called on Kosovo citizens to help law enforcement authorities to do their work.

The paper reports on the front page that the first reactions from the residents of Mitrovica to the new Peace Park on the Iber/Ibar River bridge were seen on Sunday. There was an announcement on social media for a peaceful protest in Mitrovica on Sunday. The demonstration gathered no more than 100 people and it went almost unnoticed. But simultaneously, around 1,000 people gathered in a separate protest to express their outrage with Mitrovica North Mayor Goran Rakic’s decision to place the concrete barricade on the bridge and the failure of local and international institutions to react.

The President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, met with KFOR commander Salvatore Farina. They talked about the present situation in Mitrovica and the northern municipalities. Jahjaga said the reinstatement of the Mitrovica barricade was unacceptable and violates freedom of movement for all people. She added that the reinstatement prevents progress and the full integration of all people into the social and institutional life of Kosovo.

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, expressed deep disappointment over the reinstatement of a barricade on Mitrovica bridge. “As Prime Minister of the country, I yesterday welcomed the voluntary removal of the barricade by citizens of the Serb community in the hope that it was a sign of civic maturity. Unfortunately, only hours later, the citizens of Kosovo and I were disappointed again with the shameful act of reinstating the barricade on the River Iber bridge. This shameful and dangerous game, and above all illegal, is unacceptable for the values of our society and democratic country.

Replacement of a barricade of concrete with a garden of trees and flowers was a decision of the citizens but the desire to keep the bridge still closed for car traffic through a garden of trees and flowers is very symbolic and politically motivated, said KFOR. According to KFOR, the garden prevents free movement of cars but nevertheless is a positive step that could facilitate reconciliation and KFOR will work in supporting dialogue and democratization for Kosovo’s stability. In a statement, KFOR also said that no incident was recorded in yesterday’s events on the River Iber/Ibar bridge.

Koha Ditore reports on the front page that the barricade on the main bridge over the Iber/Ibar River was removed only temporarily. Serbs replaced it with another barricade which they called the Peace Park. Throughout this action, Kosovo Police elite units only served as spectators. Municipal and central authorities all rushed to claim credit for the removal of the barricade, but when another one was built, all remained silent.