Kosovo Serbs have gathered to protest the planned opening for traffic of the bridge over the Ibar River that separates predominantly Albanian South Mitrovica from the predominantly Serbian North Mitrovica. Currently the bridge is opened only to pedestrians.

Why is this significant

The opening of the bridge for traffic has already been agreed upon in the ongoing dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. However, the decision of Albin Kurti’s Government to open the bridge unilaterally was met with the fierce opposition of the Kosovo Serb community, Serbia, and more importantly, Kosovo’s Western allies. This decision by the Kurti Government is the latest, in a series of decisions, including the recent closure of 9 Serb post offices, that risk escalating tensions between Kosovo and its Serb community supported by Serbia. Furthermore, these decisions risk eroding Kosovo’s relations with its Western allies.   

Context

Kosovo Serbs views the decision and the presence of Kosovo Police Special Units as forms of pressure and intimidation. To them these are yet another step in Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s efforts to unilaterally assert authority in northern Kosovo and undermine their position. 

Representatives of the Serb List, the largest Serbian party in Kosovo, have previously stated that the bridge cannot be opened without consultation and consent from the Serbs living on the northern side of the bridge.

According to Tanjug, Serb President Aleksandar Vucic reacted to the news on Tuesday evening declaring that Pristina’s PM Albin Kurti wants to spark a conflict before the US elections. He knows his time is slowly running out, Vucic said, so he is using provocations to turn NATO against Serbia.

However, Prime Minister Kurti’s announced intentions to suddenly open it to traffic unilaterally, was met by the rejection of the QUINT countries (the U.S., the U.K., Germany, France, and Italy) and the EU, as stated on August 2.

NATO’s mission in Kosovo, KFOR, has also stressed that any decision regarding the bridge’s opening should be made within the framework of the EU-mediated dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. Italian soldiers from the KFOR mission are stationed at the bridge, alongside Kosovo Police. KFOR has also stated it will not hesitate to intervene if events threaten regional security and stability.

EU spokesperson Peter Stano reiterated on August 1 that the issue of opening the Mitrovica bridge should be resolved through dialogue, emphasizing that an agreement already exists. 

What makes the situation so tense, is the fact that the Ibar River bridge has historically been a flashpoint, symbolizing post-war tensions. In the past Kosovo Serbs erected barricades on the bridge to resist Kosovo’s authority in the north.