Serb List in open letter to EU Office: Serbian people unequivocally oppose opening of bridge over the Ibar

Serb List sent an open letter to the European Union Office in Pristina following a statement from Brussels that the conditions had been met for opening the main bridge over the Ibar River between North and South Mitrovica. In the letter, it expressed its disappointment and called on the European Union to provide clear and unequivocal answers to questions directly concerning the security of the Serbian people.

“Dear representatives of the European Union Office in Pristina, Serb List, regarding the statement from Brussels that the conditions have been met for opening the main bridge over the Ibar between North and South Mitrovica, expresses, on behalf of the Serbian people, its deepest disappointment and demands clear and unequivocal answers from the European Union to questions that directly concern the security of the Serbian people. First and foremost, on the basis of which specific security assessment did the European Union conclude that the conditions for opening the bridge had been met? Who prepared that assessment, when was it prepared, and which security parameters were taken into account, bearing in mind the dozens of meetings at which we provided you with detailed information about violations of the rights of the Serbian people?” the open letter from Serb List to the EU Office in Kosovo states.

In the letter, Serb List specifically demanded an answer to the question of how it is possible to assess that the security of Serbs can be guaranteed by relying on the Kosovo Police, given, as they pointed out, numerous serious allegations and complaints regarding the conduct of its officers toward Serbs, including allegations of mistreatment, excessive use of force, and violations of procedures and service rules.

“What confidence can the Serbian people have in institutions that are supposed to guarantee their security when cases of attacks against Serbs still exist for which the public has not received an answer as to who is responsible? What message is being sent by the fact that, according to available information, it has still not been established who is responsible for the beating of Nenad Raskovic and other members of our community in the municipality of Zubin Potok? How can we speak of a safe environment while there are simultaneously serious concerns about police conduct and the protection of the rights and property of the Serbian population?” Serb List asked.

Stating that the opening of the bridge over the Ibar is a matter for dialogue, Serb List said that this raises the question of what purpose the dialogue serves if certain matters can be resolved unilaterally.

“More importantly, how did the European Union conduct a security assessment and support the opening of a bridge that is a matter covered by the Brussels dialogue, without the participation and consent of the other side in the dialogue? If issues that are part of the dialogue can be resolved unilaterally, then the legitimate question arises as to what purpose the dialogue serves and what value agreements reached with the mediation of the European Union have,” Serb List added.

They also asked whether the European Union would assume political and institutional responsibility for any security consequences resulting from the opening of the main bridge over the Ibar.

“If, following such a decision, incidents, threats to security, or violence occur, will those who today claim that the ‘conditions have been met’ assume responsibility for their assessment? Or will responsibility once again be shifted to other international missions and EULEX, whose previous handling of numerous cases involving violations of the rights of the Serbian people has left us deeply dissatisfied? We particularly emphasize that any removal of KFOR personnel from the main bridge would represent an additional reason for concern among the Serbian population. KFOR's presence represents an important security mechanism for our people, and we believe that its removal cannot be decided without a serious assessment of the consequences and consideration of the views of the community that directly lives in this area,” Serb List said in its open letter.

As they emphasized, Serb List and the Serbian people in Kosovo are deeply disappointed by this move by the European Union and clearly and unequivocally oppose opening the main bridge over the Ibar to traffic, as well as removing KFOR personnel from the bridge.

“Our position is not directed against freedom of movement or against any people. It is based on genuine concern for the security of citizens and on the experiences of the Serbian people living in northern Kosovo and Metohija. Therefore, we demand from the European Union Office in Pristina and the relevant EU institutions that they present to the public the security assessment on the basis of which the conclusion was reached that the conditions for opening the bridge have been met, explain who will specifically guarantee the security of the Serbian population, and clearly answer who will bear responsibility if this decision produces the consequences about which we are warning today,” Serb List said.

As they emphasized, people's security must not be the subject of a political experiment.

“We expect responsibility from the European Union, not statements of concern after the fact. We expect issues arising from the dialogue to be resolved through dialogue, rather than unilateral decisions, and for the security of the Serbian people to take precedence over day-to-day political interests,” Serb List said in its open letter to the EU Office in Pristina.

The European Union confirmed that the conditions for opening the main bridge over the Ibar had been met. Referring to Brussels' position from last year's report, which stated that the bridge should be opened following consultations with “security partners,” an unnamed European Union spokesperson said that this condition had been fulfilled by KFOR's statement this week.

On Monday, August 10, KFOR announced that it had begun the “integration of Kosovo Police personnel into the KFOR security architecture at the Decani Monastery.”

In a recent Kosovo Online analysis, interlocutors warned that the new security arrangement is being introduced at a time when Serbs' trust in the Kosovo Police is very low and concerns about security remain.