Mayor of North Mitrovica Goran Rakić ordered today the suspension of construction works on and around the bridge in this city, and asked the international and local security authorities to ensure the security of citizens.

Rakić said that the reason behind was a series of serious incidents in the city and that he asks the representatives of the EU to comply with the Brussels agreement and above all to ensure the safety to citizens.

Street signs in Albanian language in Suvi Do/Suhodoll were removed after protests of Mayor of North Mitrovica due to illegal operation of South Mitrovica municipality in this city, and several meetings with the relevant ministries and international representatives, announced today the cabinet of Mayor Rakić.

Despite the Kosovo Albanian politicians claims, Federica Mogherini will not attend the opening of the main bridge on the Ibar in Kosovska Mitrovica on March 4.

The reason, according to Beta, that is quoting the daily Vecernje Novosti, is that the bridge will not be opened then.

Mayor of Northern Mitrovica Goran Rakic told the newspaper that according to the Brussels agreement, the bridge will be opened once the works in the pedestrian zone in Kralja Petra Street have been completed.

The move by Mitrovica municipal authorities to put up Albanian street names in the village of Suhodoll/Suvi Do has led to the reaction of Mitrovica North Mayor Goran Rakic who warned that “unilateral actions will not be tolerated.”  “I reemphsise that the southern and northern municipalities of Mitrovica have not signed the memorandum on their boundaries therefore such actions are illegal and unacceptable,” Rakic said.

North Mitrovica Mayor Goran Rakić said today that setting up the street names in the Albanian language in Suvi Do/Suhidoll was illegal and unacceptable, and he recalled that the municipality of Mitrovica North and South have not signed the memorandum on delimitation.

Rakić also said that the relevant ministries would put pressure on the South Mitrovica municipal authorities in order to stop these activities, which he has strongly condemned.

The Mayor of Mitrovica North Goran Rakić said to RTS that the Prime Minister of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, requested from Serb representative to remain calm and united, and to avoid unilateral moves.

Rakić said that Serb representatives have informed the Prime Minister in Raška about the situation in northern Kosovo as well as with concerns of the Serbs.

North Mitrovicë/ Mitrovica Mayor Goran Rakić said that any agreement with Prishtinë/Priština delegation was not reached in relation to the supporting wall in this city, and on which demolition political representatives of Kosovo Albanians are insisting.

Rakić said in a statement that any agreement, except that both sides should refrain from inflammatory rhetoric and unilateral actions that might jeopardize the entire process of the Brussels dialogue, was not discussed.

In an interview with Kosovapress, Mitrovica North Mayor Goran Rakic said the wall will not be demolished while Kosovo police special unit (ROSU) cannot go to the north again. “Tensions have increased following recent events and citizens are rightfully concerned. I consider someone wanted to use this situation for political purposes and I appeal to all parties in talks in Brussels to decrease tensions and the top priority should be maintaining peace in these parts because there is no other alternative,” Rakic is quoted.

The Mayor of North Mitrovica Goran Rakić says that it is the right of local government to build on the territory on which they govern, and adds that the announcement of the central authorities in Pristina on demolishment of the supporting wall goes beyond their limits.

Most local news websites covered an interview that Mitrovica North Mayor Goran Rakic gave to Belgrade-based Politika daily newspaper, highlighting his quote that the wall in Mitrovica North will not be demolished. Rakic said the base of the wall will be redesigned with stairs that will be connected to a roundabout that is being built in the north. “Everything will be done in accordance with the project that was defined last year and verified this year,” he noted.