Radojevic: KFOR withdrawal from the bridge and its opening to traffic would mean a victory for Kurti

The Mayor of North Mitrovica, Milan Radojevic, said today that if KFOR withdraws its troops from the main bridge over the Ibar and allows it to be opened to traffic, that would mean a victory for Albin Kurti and would amount to the mission taking his side.

„The opening of the main bridge is something Albin Kurti has in his programme. If KFOR moves its troops and allows the main bridge to be opened to traffic, that will mean a victory for Albin Kurti and KFOR taking their side. KFOR has maintained neutrality for 27 years, preserving peace and stability between the two divided cities“, Radojevic said during a public hearing on the draft local budget, after residents asked him about KFOR's withdrawal from the bridge and security in the city.

Radojevic stressed that he strongly disagrees with the assessment that the security situation has improved.

„We expressed our concern. We said that if this happens, there will be major security problems. We do not agree with the assessment that the security situation is better. On the contrary, you live in this municipality, you face problems every day, and you see the conduct of Kosovo Police officers. We cannot say that Kosovo Police officers are neutral and professional at this point“, Radojevic stressed.

That is why, he reiterated, the announced withdrawal of KFOR troops from the main bridge is a major concern.

„We will continue to work on this and talk to the KFOR commander, trying to influence him so that such a decision is not implemented in practice. You have seen that the Carabinieri are still there. They need to remain there, because the main bridge is a highly sensitive point“, Radojevic noted.

He pointed out that there are several bridges that allow traffic to move freely between North and South Mitrovica.

„We absolutely see no reason why the main bridge should be opened to traffic“, Radojevic added.