Ragus: KFOR withdrawal from Ibar Bridge could lead to serious destabilization

Deputy Speaker of the Serbian Parliament and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marina Ragus said today, during a meeting with Head of the Political Section of the US Embassy in Belgrade Katherine Croft, that KFOR's withdrawal from the Ibar Bridge could lead to serious destabilization of the situation in North Mitrovica and throughout Kosovo.

Ragus pointed to the difficult situation in Kosovo, stressing that more than 800 ethnically motivated incidents and acts of violence had been recorded since 2021. She said that the latest case—the beating of Nenad Raskovic from the village of Dren near Zubin Potok—had revealed the true face of Albin Kurti and his intention to ethnically cleanse Kosovo of Serbs.

In the context of the importance of respecting international law, territorial integrity, and sovereignty, Ragus stressed that UN Security Council Resolution 1244 constituted the foundation of Serbia's position on Kosovo, recalling that Pristina had failed for 13 years to fulfill its obligations under the Brussels Agreement, including the establishment of the Community of Serb-Majority Municipalities, according to a statement by the Serbian Parliament.

Ragus also briefed Croft on the current political situation in Serbia and the upcoming elections, which, she said, would also be observed by the OSCE Mission with the aim of eliminating any doubts concerning the electoral process and election results.

The meeting also addressed the importance of the Strategic Dialogue as an important mechanism for strengthening relations and addressing issues of mutual interest.

Head of the Political Section of the US Embassy Katherine Croft said that she shared the hope that solutions would be found to outstanding issues and stressed that it was important to Washington for Serbia to find solutions that would contribute to further progress and stability.

Croft said that the United States would continue to support progress in the Strategic Dialogue between the two countries and remained ready to further strengthen cooperation and maintain an open exchange of views on issues of mutual interest.

She also stressed that Washington was interested in the course of the electoral process in Serbia, expressing the expectation that the elections would be conducted in accordance with democratic standards and in a manner that would contribute to stability and confidence in institutions.