Petkovic on the start of construction of two bridges over the Ibar: Kurti is inciting conflict and unrest; the EU must stop him before it’s too late

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, stated today that the laying of the foundation stones for two bridges over the Ibar River is an illegal and violent act that goes directly against the interests of the Serbian people. He said that Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti is using dangerous escalatory moves to provoke conflict and unrest.

In a statement to Tanjug, Petkovic emphasized that Kurti is endangering the survival of Serbs, especially in North Mitrovica, who have endured more than 200 serious attacks and attempted incursions by extremists from the southern part of the city. He added that he conveyed this concern today to the EU Special

Representative for the Belgrade–Pristina Dialogue, Peter Sørensen, during their meeting in Vienna.
He also pointed out that not a single Serb in the north supports the decision to build the bridges.

"This is a party decision by Self-Determination, one that carries catastrophic consequences. By announcing that the bridges will open in October ahead of local elections, Kurti is deliberately turning a security issue into a tool for his election campaign. That’s why, after the Berlin Process meeting, he went straight to lay the foundation stone, demonstrating that building peace and cooperation means nothing to him. The EU must stop Kurti before it’s too late," Petkovic said.

Earlier today, Kurti laid the foundation stone for the construction of two bridges over the Ibar River near the main bridge, stating that the main bridge — currently closed to vehicle traffic and guarded by KFOR troops — should be opened as soon as possible.

The EU yesterday called on Pristina to refrain from any unilateral actions, including the construction of the two new bridges, and the German embassy today also urged Pristina to show restraint regarding the bridge construction over the Ibar.