The new bridge over the Ibar River has been opened for pedestrian traffic, linking South Mitrovica, predominantly inhabited by ethnic Albanians, with North Mitrovica, predominantly inhabited by ethnic Serbs.
The bridge was inaugurated by acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti, acting Minister of Infrastructure Hysen Durmishi, and the Mayor of South Mitrovica, Faton Peci.
Kurti said that the opening of the pedestrian bridge would increase movement and mobility in Mitrovica, describing the city as highly important for the Republic of Kosovo. According to Kurti, the construction represents “development and progress,” adding that the bridge over the Ibar has no ethnic affiliation and serves to connect the southern and northern parts of the city.
“We are here to bring people together, to promote trade, economic cooperation, and cultural cooperation. This bridge is not against anyone; this bridge is for everyone. It is a pedestrian bridge, not for vehicles, but for people who move on foot,” Kurti said.
The opening of the bridge coincides with the start of the campaign for the snap parliamentary elections scheduled for December 28, after Kurti’s Vetëvendosje Movement failed to secure a parliamentary majority to form a new government following the regular elections held in February.
Meanwhile, Durmishi recalled that on August 26 another bridge over the Ibar, dedicated to vehicle traffic, was opened.
“Today we are marking the opening of a hydraulic and artistic structure, not merely a pedestrian bridge, but a work of art,” Durmishi said.
The construction of this bridge followed a memorandum between the Ministry of Infrastructure and the municipalities of South and North Mitrovica.
The construction of these two bridges, alongside the main Ibar bridge, took place despite opposition from local Serbs and reactions from the international community. Kosovo’s acting government has consistently stated that the purpose of the two bridges—one for pedestrians and the other for vehicles—is to connect North and South Mitrovica, a city that has been ethnically divided since the post-war period.
The executive allocated around €3 million for their construction. The bridges were also opposed by the Serb List, the largest Kosovo Serb political party backed by Belgrade, which launched a petition against them that gathered more than 3,500 signatures.
The European Union has previously stated that the construction of the two new bridges over the Ibar River in Mitrovica is of “practical and political importance,” and that any infrastructure project between North and South Mitrovica requires close coordination and dialogue among all involved communities.
“It is essential that these projects reflect the will and needs of local communities,” the EU previously told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
The new bridges were built near the main bridge over the Ibar, which is part of the Freedom of Movement Agreement reached within the Kosovo–Serbia dialogue. The main bridge is known for ethnic clashes following the war and, for this reason, remains under the supervision of NATO’s peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR.
The main bridge is currently open only to pedestrians. The Kosovo government had announced plans to open it to vehicle traffic in July last year, a move that triggered tensions and reactions from the international community.
Kosovo and Serbia had agreed in 2014 to open the bridge to traffic as part of the dialogue on normalizing relations. The agreement предусaw the revitalization of the bridge and the removal of all barricades installed by local Serbs.
In 2016, an agreement was reached on a new implementation plan to overcome disagreements regarding interpretations of previous agreements. Under this plan, the bridge was to be opened to traffic in January 2017.
Revitalization works were completed in June 2018, but the bridge—into which €1.5 million was invested—has never been opened to vehicles and remains accessible only to pedestrians.