NATO warns Kosovo over moves to open bridge in divided city

NATO warns Kosovo over moves to open bridge in divided city
by AFP Staff Writers
Pristina (AFP) Aug 6, 2024

NATO forces in Kosovo on Tuesday warned government authorities against trying to reopen a bridge in the divided city of Mitrovica that has long separated Serbs and ethnic Albanians in the restive northern area.

The NATO-led peacekeeping force KFOR maintains a strong presence in Mitrovica and patrols the area around the bridge over the Ibar River that has been closed to car traffic for years.

The bridge that divides the communities has been the scene of frequent clashes following the 1999 war between Serbian forces and Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority, which left 13,000 dead and ended after a NATO bombing campaign led by Washington.

KFOR said it would "not hesitate" to intervene if Kosovo authorities moved ahead with potential plans to open the bridge.

"KFOR units maintain a permanent, fixed presence on the bridge and continue to conduct regular patrols in the surrounding areas to ensure stability and security, for the benefit of all local communities," read a KFOR statement.

"We will not hesitate to tackle any development that may affect the security environment and regional stability, in full respect of our UN mandate."

KFOR's reaction followed a recent visit to the bridge by members of the ethnic-Albanian-dominated governing cabinet, who were overseeing "an imminent technical inspection" of the area.

Kosovo government officials have been increasingly calling for the opening of the bridge, with Prime Minister Albin Kurti saying last week the crossing "must be opened" during a meeting with Western ambassadors.

The KFOR statement comes just a day after Kosovo authorities raided at least nine Serbian post office branches near its northern border with Serbia.

Serbian post offices in Kosovo have long used to receive funds, including pensions, and transfer money to financial institutions in Serbia.

Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo have been simmering for months, following the introduction of a rule earlier this year that made the euro the only legal currency in Kosovo and effectively outlawed use of the Serbian dinar.

The move -- which came after EU- and US-backed negotiations collapsed -- sparked anger in Belgrade, which continues to finance a parallel health, education and social security system for the Serbian minority in Kosovo.

Animosity between Kosovo and Serbia has persisted since the war between Serbian forces and ethnic Albanian insurgents in the late 1990s.

Kosovo later declared independence in 2008, a move that Serbia has refused to acknowledge.