Baliqi: No changes on the Ibar bridge, Kosovo Police patrol present as before

Following reports that the Kosovo Police had, after 27 years, begun taking responsibility for security at the main bridge over the Ibar River, which is otherwise secured by KFOR, Kosovo Police Lieutenant Erduan Baliqi told Kosovo Online that there had been no changes at the bridge.

“There are no changes at the main bridge over the Ibar. Everything is as it has been until now. One Kosovo Police patrol is parked there, as before. We have not received any other information,” said Erduan Baliqi, head of planning and operational assessment for the Mitrovica North regional operations unit of the Kosovo Police.

One Kosovo Police vehicle and a vehicle belonging to the Italian Carabinieri serving within KFOR are present at the bridge. The Carabinieri have also been providing security at the bridge until now.

Earlier, RTK, citing unnamed sources, reported that the Kosovo Police had begun taking responsibility as of today for securing the bridge, which for years had been under the authority of international security missions.

The main bridge over the Ibar has been closed to traffic since 1999, with KFOR responsible for its security.

Authorities in Pristina are calling for it to be opened, while Serbs oppose this, fearing for their safety.

In addition to the main bridge over the Ibar, another bridge has been built, and construction of a third bridge over the river is currently underway. Both new bridges were constructed without consultation with the Serbian community.