Since the end of the war in Kosovo, the Ibar Bridge has become a symbol of the physical and ethnic divide between Albanians and Serbs. Although it has been opened for pedestrian movement, it remains closed to vehicle traffic.
Recently, Prime minister Albin Kurti announced plans to open the Ibar Bridge, emphasizing that it “benefits people on both sides of the Ibar, as well as trade, the economy, and cooperation.”
However, this has been opposed by the Serbian community in the north, some members of the opposition, civil society, and QUINT countries, sparking strong reactions.
The Kosovo government’s announcement and the actions taken to open the bridge to vehicle traffic have reignited concerns about escalating ethnic tensions and security situations in the northern part of the country.
Reactions from Local Serbs
There have been numerous reactions from Serbian officials in Serbia and the Serbian community in Kosovo. The latter expressed their discontent through a peaceful protest on August 7, emphasizing their disagreement with the decision to open the bridge.
Representatives of the Serbian community in Kosovo complained that the Kurti government is exerting repression against them. Former Chief Judge of the Basic Court in North Mitrovica, Nikolla Kabashiq, stated that attempts to resolve issues through dialogue have failed.
“This is the most democratic form of protest by people living in the north. We do not accept this decision, which is justified by the pretext of freedom of movement. There is certainly freedom of movement now. We cross the bridge, and Albanians come to the north. They visit our shops, pharmacies...” said Kabašić, who is among the Serbian officials who resigned from Kosovo institutions in November 2022.
Serbian civil society representatives have claimed that the push to open the bridge for traffic is merely a pre-election maneuver by Prime Minister Albin Kurti.
To address the widespread reactions, the Government of Kosovo organized a public discussion with local Serbs. However, despite the Prime Minister's call for dialogue, the government's decision had already been made without prior consultation, citing the Brussels agreements, which mandate the opening of the bridge. As a result, the public discussion was seen as a mere attempt to justify the decision.
On August 13, 2024, a letter signed by 415 women was handed over to the Carabinieri at the main Ibar Bridge, addressed to KFOR Commander Ozkan Ulutaş, appealing for the bridge not to be opened.
Since 2019, Prime Minister Kurti has repeatedly announced plans to initiate an internal dialogue with Kosovo Serbs.
Reactions from KFOR and QUINT Ambassadors
The U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, made it clear in a statement following a meeting that the QUINT countries and NATO do not support the opening of the Ibar Bridge in Mitrovica.
Meanwhile, in the EU, the possibility of increasing sanctions against Kosovo was mentioned, in addition to those that remain in effect.
“The fact that the EU imposed measures against Kosovo last year is a reflection of the steps that led to the escalation. Now we see more unilateral actions and more uncoordinated measures. This is not de-escalation. It leads to further escalation. Those making decisions in Pristina need to understand this clearly,” said Peter Stano, the EU spokesperson.
On August 6, 2024, the day when government officials inspected the Ibar Bridge and took actions to repaint the surrounding areas, KFOR issued a public statement expressing their readiness to confront anyone whose actions threaten the security situation.
“Any decision regarding the opening of the main bridge over the Ibar River must be made within the framework of the EU-mediated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina,” stated KFOR in their declaration.
Reactions from Serbian Officials and Attempts to Incite Tensions
To oppose the bridge's opening, local Serbs organized a protest on August 6, 2024. The protest concluded peacefully and without incidents, but there were attempts to stir tensions when Serbian officials spread misinformation, claiming that Albanians were also preparing a counter-rally on the day of the protest.
A day before the protest, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic alleged that the former mayor of South Mitrovica, Agim Bahtiri, was preparing a counter-protest in Mitrovica, “following orders from Prime Minister Albin Kurti to provoke the Serbs.”
“I saw for myself that Bahtiri, under Kurti’s orders, has already planned a counter-rally in response to the Serbian gathering on the other side of the bridge,” Vucic claimed.
Agim Bahtiri made a post calling for a grand gathering of citizens from both municipalities, but he did not specify the date when it might take place.
Although the years-long spiral of violence around the bridge has ceased, tensions surrounding it remain high.
*This article is published as part of the Western Balkans Regional Initiative against disinformation. “Western Balkans Anti-Disinformation Hub: exposing malign influences through watchdog journalism.”
