Mijacic: The biggest fear is the closure of the University; pressures on the work of healthcare institutions

Dragisa Mijacic, the Coordinator of the Working Group of the National Convention on the EU for Chapter 35, stated that he believes the Kosovo government will continue to keep the issue of opening the main bridge on the Ibar River active in the coming period. Among other unilateral actions that can be expected, he highlights that the greatest concern is the potential closure of the University in Kosovska Mitrovica, a higher education institution of great importance for the Serbian community and all those who attend it.

As he explains, the issue of the University has been raised multiple times during the dialogue process, and any attempt to close it would be another action not coordinated with international partners.

"This is also an appeal to the international community to act preventively. We have seen multiple times that they have reacted to actions by the Kosovo government, but we haven't seen preventive measures. A group of civil society organizations and activists from northern Kosovo recently released a statement calling for the deployment of KFOR in front of all key institutions crucial for the functioning of the Serbian community in the north, in the form of mobile checkpoints and control points. This would be one way to prevent further escalation and dissatisfaction among the Serbian people, by having KFOR stationed in front of all institutions of significance for the Serbian community, primarily the University," Mijacic said.

In his assessment, there will not be an immediate move toward the closure of healthcare and educational institutions, primarily because they are recognized by the Kosovo constitution, but there will certainly be pressures to hinder their operations.

"We have seen several instances where Kosovo political forces have entered the building, specifically the hospital complex in Kosovska Mitrovica. I believe there will be pressure on healthcare institutions, both in terms of medicine delivery, patient transport, and the overall functionality of these institutions," Mijacic emphasized.

Although the Kosovo government had announced that the bridge would be opened during the summer, Mijacic points out that this did not happen, mainly due to KFOR's determination to keep its vehicles on the bridge and prevent Kosovo authorities from opening it.

"The question is whether the opening of the bridge will be coordinated with international representatives, primarily the Quint countries and the European Union, and whether it will be addressed within the framework of the dialogue, or if there will be another unilateral action during the autumn pause, all related to the elections scheduled an astonishing six months in advance. Regarding other actions, every year in September, after people from the diaspora leave, the Kosovo government organizes unilateral actions that are not coordinated with any international institution, but they attempt to impose changes on the ground on their own. This is happening these days with the abolition of Provisional Authorities in northern Kosovska Mitrovica and other municipalities in the north. We can expect similar measures in the upcoming period," Mijacic concluded.