France calls on Kosovo: Do ​​not take another unilateral action in the north

France has called on Kosovo on Friday to refrain from undertaking any "other unilateral action", which could further escalate the tensions in the north of the country, after the intentions to reopen the bridge over the Iber.

The reaction of France comes after the Kosovo authorities have undertaken several actions during this week in the north of the country, a part inhabited by a majority of Serbs, which have been opposed by Serbia and the Serbs of Kosovo, as well as by the international community.

"France strongly condemns the sudden increase in the unilateral actions of the Kosovar authorities in the north of the country, which affect the daily life of the Serbian community", says a notice issued by the French Foreign Ministry.

On Thursday, the Kosovar authorities conducted urban inspections on the Iber River in a test phase before its intended reopening, while at the beginning of the week they closed nine facilities of the Post of Serbia in the north of Kosovo.

The government of Kosovo has said that it intends to reopen the bridge over Ibër, which separates the Albanian-majority South Mitrovica, and the Serbian-majority North Mitrovica, for vehicle traffic.

Members of the Serbian community protested on Wednesday against the reopening of the bridge over the Iber.

The countries of QUINT – of which France is a part along with the United States, Great Britain, Germany and Italy – declared on August 2 that they do not support the opening of the bridge at this time.

According to France, the actions of the Kosovar authorities endanger the efforts to normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia, "which is a prerequisite for the realization of the European perspective for both countries".

Meanwhile, NATO's peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR, warned again that it is ready to take "all necessary measures" to combat developments that could undermine regional security and stability, after recent developments. in the north of Kosovo.

In the post-war period, the bridge over the Iber River was a symbol of the riots and barricades erected by Kosovo Serbs to oppose Kosovo's efforts to establish authority in the north.

The bridge is currently only open for pedestrians, although in the framework of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, it has been agreed that it should also be opened for vehicle traffic.

Italian KFOR soldiers are on the bridge over the Ibër river, while members of the Kosovo Police are also nearby.

KFOR said on Friday that "we don't want to speculate about any scenario in the future" if Kosovo's institutions ask it to remove its presence from the bridge over the Ibër river./ REL