Vucic Opposes KFOR Withdrawal from the Bridge across the Ibar River in Mitrovica

Kosovska Mitrovica bridge (BETA/SASA DJORDJEVIC)

Following KFOR’s announcement that it will pull its forces securing the bridge across the Ibar River separating the predominantly Serb-populated North Mitrovica from the southern ethnic Albanian part of the city and will also integrate the Kosovo police in its units guarding the Serbian medieval Orthodox monastery Visoki Decani in Metohija, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said in the evening on Aug. 10 that it did not come as a surprise to him, but stressed that Belgrade believes that this must not be allowed.

Speaking to the RTS public broadcaster, Vucic said that he will discuss the matter with Serbian Army Chief of Staff Milan Mojsilovic.

“I assume that Mojsilovic has discussed other matters with the KFOR commander, because they wanted to open for traffic the bridge across the Ibar River in Mitrovicac, which was met with our reaction that it should not be allowed,” Vucic said.

He also said that none of these decisions came unexpected for him, because Pristina and the international community bodies “must finish their game and will continue to do so”, while official Belgrade “must be patient, smart enough and responsible.”

“Our position is extremely difficult: this is not about the safety of Serbs, as Serbs are harassed, beaten, arrested every day, and they do not care. We should not expect them to protect them (the Serbs), it is impossible. We, on the other hand, should focus on our politics, and provide support and help to our people there. I know how difficult it is for them to endure. At the moment, it is difficult to find other technical means or methods for struggle besides politics,” Vucic specified.

Commenting on reactions to his earlier announcement that Serbia will change the watercourse of the Ibar River, Vucic said that he expected Pristina to turn to Brussels, but does not know why Albania did the same.