Increased forces on the Ibri bridge, KFOR: Part of a training, we remain alert...

2024-09-04 14:39:23Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

Increased forces on the Ibri bridge, KFOR: Part of a training, we remain

The increased forces and means of the NATO peacekeeping mission, KFOR, which were also observed on Wednesday at the Ibri bridge in Mitrovica, are temporary and part of a periodic training, KFOR confirmed to Radio Free Europe.

In the written statement, the mission said the training is being conducted "to test procedures and maintain the highest operational standards."

Without giving more details about him, KFOR said that "it is monitoring the security situation in the north of Kosovo" and that it "remains vigilant". This mission has a permanent presence at the Ibri bridge, which divides Mitrovica into the south inhabited by Albanians and the north inhabited by Serbs.

There were increased forces last weekend as well, when the mission also confirmed that it had conducted some training. These developments come a few days after the Kosovo authorities have closed five parallel Serbian institutions in the north.

The Serbian residents of the area, for years, have received various services in them and their closure has caused a strong reaction of the international community against Kosovo.

This, in spite of the fact that there is an agreement for the extinction of these structures that was reached in Brussels as early as 2013, but its implementation has stalled.

The international community, however, requires that all issues related to the situation in the north be addressed within the dialogue for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

Similarly, he asked to address the issue of opening the Ibri bridge for car traffic, which the Government of Kosovo has warned that it will do./REL


Video