Workers began refurbishing a former Serbian Post Office building today in Ivo Lola Ribar Street in North Mitrovica, marking another step in the expansion of Kosovo’s state institutions into the Serb-majority north. The site is being prepared for a new branch of Kosovo Post, replacing the former Serbian postal facility.
The development is part of a wider institutional push by the Kosovo government. Kosovo’s Minister of Economy, Artane Rizvanolli, announced via Facebook that 13 Kosovo Post offices have already opened in the four northern municipalities, with three more in the process of being established.
“For the first time, citizens in every part of the Republic of Kosovo are receiving postal services from the only legal, state-run, licensed and regulated postal institution — Kosovo Post,” Rizvanolli stated.
On-site today, workers repainted the facade of what was once colloquially known as the “Little Post Office” and began cleaning and preparing the building’s interior. Faton Eljupi, who identified himself as an employee of Kosovo Post, told our team that the new branch would open „in the coming days,“ though he could not provide a specific date.
“I’m just a worker, not the director,” he added.
The building was officially handed over to Kosovo Post by the Municipality of North Mitrovica, following a special session of the local assembly last week. The site was offered for lease after Kosovo Post had previously operated from a location on the city’s main pedestrian boulevard.
The initiative follows the closure of all Serbian Post branches in northern Kosovo on August 5, 2024 — nine facilities in total, including three in North Mitrovica, two in Zvecan, one in Zubin Potok, and three in Leposavic.
Shortly afterward, Kosovo Post began opening branches in these northern municipalities — first in the village of Banjska, followed by new offices in Zvecan, Leposavic, and Zubin Potok. The Leposavic branch was inaugurated in late April by outgoing Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti.
Institutional Shift Amid Diplomatic Talks
The latest developments come as officials from Belgrade and Pristina convene with the EU’s foreign policy chief to discuss the ongoing political dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo.
Simultaneously, Kosovo authorities have stepped up efforts to assert control over facilities previously run by Serbian institutions — part of a broader trend that has seen at least 73 such institutions closed since 2012, according to available data.
Reports also indicate that Kosovo Police have begun issuing verbal warnings at border crossings, signaling that Serbian-issued identity cards for towns in Kosovo may soon be invalidated.
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