Ambassador Rohde supports KFOR's red lines for the bridge and asks for an extension

2024-08-14 14:52:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Ambassador Rohde supports KFOR's red lines for the bridge and asks for an

The German ambassador in Kosovo, Jorn Rohde, said on Wednesday that he fully supports the red lines of the NATO mission in Kosovo, KFOR, for the main bridge over the Iber River.

This bridge - which separates the Albanian-majority South Mitrovica from the Serb-majority North Mitrovica - is open to pedestrians, but not to cars.

The KFOR mission has warned that it will not hesitate to act to respond to security-related developments, and that any decision on the bridge should be made through the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, mediated by the dialogue in Brussels.

The issue of the bridge has been updated in recent weeks as the Kosovo authorities have started to carry out inspections on the bridge and have announced its opening, despite the fact that the international factor believes that now is not the right time.

The American ambassador in Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, told Radio Free Europe on August 13 that the opening of the bridge at this time endangers the American soldiers, therefore it should not be opened.

"Last year's unilateral actions resulted in injuries to KFOR soldiers and civilians, and this should not be repeated. The advice of internationals should be taken into account," said Rohde through a post on X - the platform formerly known as Twitter.

In May and June last year, dozens of KFOR soldiers were injured in the protests of some local Serbs in the north of Kosovo, who opposed the entry of new Albanian mayors into three northern municipalities with a Serbian majority - Zveçan, Leposaviq and Zubin Potok.

"A rhetoric of extension is necessary. I welcome the coordination mentioned by the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti", the German ambassador said, among other things.

Kurti said at a meeting of the Government of Kosovo, held on August 14, that his Government will continue consultations and coordination with Kosovo's partners regarding the reopening of the bridge.

"The opening of the bridge is not against anyone, except against international partners", he said.

Kosovo and Serbia have agreed to open the bridge, first in 2015, later in 2016, within the dialogue mediated by the European Union.

Its opening has been delayed several times, and the international factor demands that this issue be a topic of dialogue again./ Rel