Rohde: It would be better to resolve traffic at the entrance to Vushtrri than to build two bridges on the Ibar

German Ambassador to Kosovo, Jörn Rohde, questioned whether it is the right time to construct additional bridges over the Ibar River, noting that the current situation requires de-escalation rather than escalation. He pointed out that it would be better to resolve traffic problems at the entrance to Vushtrri, Reporteri reports.

“So, what I mean is, when we went to Mitrovica—you know the road—I would say that it would be more important to resolve the daily traffic jams around Vushtrri than to build two bridges. That would be important to ease transportation,” Rohde said.

He recalled that KFOR had repeatedly stated that the climate was not favorable for opening the bridge.

“We all intend to open the bridge, that has not happened, but if the climate is not right for opening one bridge, is it right to open two bridges? We will see. The last thing anyone wants to see is more KFOR action in the north,” Rohde said in an interview with Info Magazine on Klan Kosova.

He also spoke about the visit of Michael Reiffenstuel, Director for the Western Balkans, Turkey, the Council of Europe, and the OSCE at the German Foreign Ministry, stressing that the key message of the visit was that Kosovo must do its job and establish its institutions.

“I want to say that the visit came at the right time, and as we publicly said afterwards, the key message was that Kosovo has been without a functional government and parliament for six months now. Do your homework and get it done, because this constitutional crisis, which still continues, runs counter to the will of the people. You cannot have a true partner if there is no legitimate counterpart on the other side,” Rohde said.