German Ambassador to Kosovo, Jörn Rohde, today affirmed his support for the NATO mission KFOR and its established “red lines,” including those concerning the Mitrovica bridge. This support comes in response to recent warnings from KFOR, which has stated it will not hesitate to act in the face of any security developments.
“It is essential that all actors refrain from unilateral declarations and actions that could create tensions,” KFOR reiterated last night.
The mission emphasized its commitment to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all communities in Kosovo “at all times and impartially” within its long-standing UN mandate.
KFOR has also underscored that any decisions regarding the bridge over the Ibar River must be made through political dialogue and in a coordinated manner, reaffirming its support for the Brussels dialogue process.
Rohde has voiced his endorsement of KFOR’s stance, particularly its “clear red lines” on the matter.
He recalled the violent incidents from May of the previous year, when clashes outside the municipal building in Zvečan resulted in injuries to both KFOR soldiers and civilians.
“Last year’s unilateral actions causing injuries to KFOR soldiers and civilians must not be repeated. International advice should be heeded,” Rohde stated.
He also called for a “rhetoric de-escalation,” welcoming the coordination efforts outlined by Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Albin Kurti.
In the meantime, Kosovo authorities are working towards reopening the main bridge over the Ibar River.
These efforts gained momentum following a preliminary report from the Ministry of Infrastructure, which confirmed that the bridge is stable, durable, and functional. Although a final assessment is still pending, the report indicates positive results from recent structural tests.
Prime Minister Kurti publicly resisted calls for the bridge issue to be discussed in Brussels, arguing it is a “Kosovo matter” that was already settled in 2017. He conveyed to the KFOR commander that reopening the bridge is “correct, necessary, and beneficial.”
However, a statement from the Kosovo government highlighted that the meeting between Kurti and KFOR’s Commander, Major General Özkan Ulutaş, was part of “intensive consultations and ongoing coordination.”
This follows objections from the U.S. Ambassador in Pristina, who expressed concerns about the timing of the bridge’s reopening, citing potential risks to the local community and NATO’s security, including American troops.
In response to these concerns, opposition leader Ramush Haradinaj of the AAK criticized the current administration, asserting, “Those who threaten American soldiers in Kosovo do not belong to Kosovo and will not belong to Kosovo.”
Kosovo’s Minister for Local Government, Elbert Krasniqi, today reiterated that any actions regarding the bridge will be coordinated with international partners and assured that the current government “takes the welfare of American troops very seriously.”
Meanwhile, a group of women from the north of Kosovo recently delivered a petition to KFOR, signed by over 400 women within 24 hours, demanding that the bridge not be reopened.
Additionally, Serbs held a protest near the bridge last week, expressing their opposition to its reopening by acclamation.
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