The initial report after testing the Ibri bridge is published

2024-08-13 22:46:21, Kosova & Bota CNA

Kosovo's Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, Hysen Durmishi, said on Tuesday that, according to an initial report, the bridge over the Iber River in the north is "stable and functional" and that it can be used for use without any load restrictions.

In recent days, the authorities in Kosovo have tested the bridge over the Iber in Mitrovica, which separates the Albanians in the south and the Serbs in the north, as they intend to reopen it for vehicle traffic, despite the opposition from the international community and local Serbs.

"We have just received the report from the test of the bearing capacity of the structure of the existing bridge over the Ibër river. The report clearly concludes that the structure of the bridge over the Ibër River is stable and functional and as such can be used for exploitation without any load restrictions", said Durmishi on Facebook.

The American ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, said in an interview for Radio Free Europe that there is a real risk associated with the opening of the bridge in Mitrovica at this time, which could affect the safety of NATO soldiers, including those Americans.

"We believe that this risk increases the threat, the possibility of violence and other problems, both for the local community and for NATO soldiers, including American soldiers who are working to ensure peace and security in Kosovo. We take very seriously any action that may affect the security and protection of American soldiers working to support Kosovo," said the American ambassador.

"Our hope is that the Government will listen to this and take these concerns into account," he added.

But, despite the opposition of the QUINT countries and NATO, the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said that the bridge should be opened and that "it is not against anyone".

Durmishi said that the authorities will wait for a final report "to have the final results on the functionality of the Ibri bridge in terms of the technical aspect".

Members of the Serbian community protested last week against the reopening of the bridge over the Iber.

Meanwhile, NATO's peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR, warned several times that it is ready to take "all necessary measures" to combat developments that could threaten regional security and stability, after the developments of last in the north of Kosovo.

In the post-war period, the bridge over the Iber River was a symbol of the riots and barricades erected by Kosovo Serbs to oppose Kosovo's efforts to establish authority in the north.

The bridge is currently only open for pedestrians, although in the framework of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, it has been agreed that it should also be opened for vehicle traffic.

Italian KFOR soldiers are on the bridge over the Ibër river, while members of the Kosovo Police are also nearby./ REL