Starovic: We rely on KFOR troops to halt construction of two new bridges over the Ibar

Serbia’s Minister for European Integration, Nemanja Starovic, stated that the Belgrade–Pristina dialogue has been in crisis ever since Albin Kurti assumed leadership of the Pristina institutions.

Starovic emphasized that Serbia is relying on KFOR forces to prevent Kurti’s latest escalatory move—what he described as an attempt to build two new bridges over the Ibar River.

Speaking as a guest on Newsmax TV, Starovic stressed that a pattern of unilateral measures has been established, through which the dialogue process is being completely disregarded.

“These unilateral actions have harmed the Serbian people and serve two purposes: first, to increase pressure on the Serbian population to leave Kosovo and Metohija—unfortunately, around 15% have left in recent years since Kurti took power—and second, to provoke a reaction from Serbia that would drag us into a war. It would be a conflict where, based on a pre-defined pattern, NATO would side with Albin Kurti, regardless of who initiated the conflict or what triggered it,” the minister stated.

Starovic reiterated that Serbia is counting on KFOR forces to prevent the construction of two additional bridges over the Ibar.

“In these far from easy circumstances, what we can do is continue and intensify our support to our people, because I believe there is hardly a single Serbian household or family in Kosovo and Metohija that is not, in one way or another, receiving assistance from Serbia—and we will definitely continue with that. As for what we rely on—unfortunately, not much on the European Union in this situation—the only force that has the ability, and has already shown it, to stop Kurti’s most escalatory actions are the KFOR troops. They are tasked with ensuring peace, security, and the protection of the most vulnerable populations, and I hope it is precisely those forces that will stop Kurti in this case,” he concluded.