One of the new bridges over the Ibar River in Mitrovica is open for traffic. The news was made public by the acting Minister of Internal Affairs of Kosovo, Xhelal Sveçla. A few months ago, the acting government of Kosovo began the construction of two new bridges on both sides of the main bridge over the Ibar River that divides the city of Mitrovica into two parts: the northern one inhabited by a Serb majority and the southern one inhabited by an Albanian majority.
The Kosovo government has repeatedly stressed that the construction of these bridges, one for pedestrians and the other for vehicles, aims to “connect North Mitrovica with South Mitrovica,” a city that has been ethnically divided since the post-war era. “Dear citizens of Mitrovica and all of Kosovo, congratulations on the new bridge,” Sveçla wrote on Facebook, posting a photo of cars crossing the new bridge over the Ibar.
The start of construction of new bridges over the Ibar River was opposed by local Serbs. The European Union has stated that “any infrastructure project between North and South Mitrovica requires close coordination and dialogue between all communities involved” and that “it is imperative that these projects reflect the will and needs of local communities.” The main bridge over the Ibar River in Mitrovica has been the scene of several ethnic clashes after the war and has been guarded by KFOR forces since then. It is open only to pedestrians.
