Visoki Decani: The moves of the Albanian authorities in North Mitrovica only worsen the situation in the north

The latest decision of the Kosovo authorities to suspend construction works for three key infrastructure projects in Kosovska Mitrovica, based on alleged procedural reasons, had only worsened the situation and created additional obstacles for de-escalation and continuation of the dialogue, the Visoki Decani Monastery announced.

The Visoki Decani Monastery says that despite international calls for de-escalation and restraint in order to avoid escalation of ethnic tensions in the north of Kosovo, the municipal authorities in North Mitrovica, led by the Kosovo Albanians, stopped the construction of three key infrastructure projects yesterday based on alleged procedural reasons

They further state that this action further strengthened the opposition of the Serbs towards these municipal authorities, which the vast majority of the population believes have no legitimacy and were imposed by the police.

"The stopped projects include a residential building in the Brdjani settlement, a new school that is mainly attended by Roma children, and a new Rector's building for the University of North Mitrovica, which is located within the University campus. The University of North Mitrovica is primarily attended by students of Serbian nationality, including students from the non-Albanian minority population," the Visoki Decani Monastery said in a statement on Twitter.

Visoki Decani points out that the latest decision of the Kosovo authorities worsened the situation and created additional obstacles to de-escalation and continuation of the dialogue.

"International authorities have consistently called on Kosovo Albanian leaders to refrain from making discriminatory and provocative decisions that could fuel ethnic divisions and potentially exacerbate inter-ethnic tensions. The EU's plan for de-escalation calls for the withdrawal of Kosovo Police from the northern municipalities, which are predominantly Serbian, and for the relocation of the current municipal authorities from municipal buildings. This plan, however, is still strongly opposed by the Kosovo Albanian authorities. The latest decision to suspend construction works only worsened the situation and created additional obstacles for de-escalation and continuation of the dialogue," the Visoki Decani Monastery concluded.