Serbs Protest in Kosovska Mitrovica against Opening of Main Bridge Across Ibar River

Kosovska Mitrovica bridge (BETA/SASA DJORDJEVIC)

A protest of the Serbs against the opening of the main bridge across the Ibar River was held next to the bridge on Aug. 7, in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica. The gathered people decided by acclamation that the bridge should not be opened for traffic, the KosSev portal has reported.

The gathering was addressed by the editor of the Jedinstvo paper, Rada Komazec, the vice-president of the Association of Pensioners of Kosovo and Metohija, Duska Vlahovic, and the director of the Post of Serbia’s operating unit in Kosovo, Ivan Milojevic, who used to be the minister for regional development in the Kosovo government. The gathering was attended by the representatives of the three key political parties of the Serbs in the north: the president of the Serb List, Zlatan Elek, his deputy Dragisa Milovic and other representatives of the party, representatives of the Serb Democracy and the leader of the Party of Kosovo Serbs and one of the founders of the Serb People’s Movement, Milija Bisevac.

Some of the messages on the banners read: “We have defended our survival at the bridge, now we are fighting against disappearance!”, “If Kurti opens the bridge, KFOR and the Quint will bear responsibility for everything!”, “While EU and U.S. issue statements, we are being expelled!”, “We demand KFOR protection.” The gathering was also supported by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

KosSev has reported that KFOR had confirmed that they had received the announcement that a technical inspection of the bridge would be carried out, drawing attention to the broad international stance that the issue of opening of the bridge should be solved within the Brussels dialogue. The gathering has been announced to the police, who have made a special operative plan for it, by a group of citizens, the police have told KosSev.