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Hovenier: Opening the bridge in Mitrovica at this time could endanger American soldiers

Politiko 2024-08-13 22:40:03

Hovenier: Opening the bridge in Mitrovica at this time could endanger American

The US Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, said in an interview for Radio Free Europe that there is a real risk associated with the opening of the bridge in Mitrovica at this time, which could affect the safety of NATO soldiers. including American ones.

"We believe that this risk increases the threat, the possibility of violence and other problems, both for the local community and for NATO soldiers, including American soldiers who are working to ensure peace and security in Kosovo. We take very seriously any action that may affect the security and protection of American soldiers working to support Kosovo," said the American ambassador.

"Our hope is that the Government will listen to this and take these concerns into account," he added.

The Government of Kosovo has said that it intends to open the bridge over the Iber, which separates the Albanian-majority South Mitrovica and the Serb-majority North Mitrovica, for vehicle traffic. Despite the opposition of the QUINT and NATO countries, the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said that the bridge should be opened and that "it is not against anyone".

The warning about the opening of the bridge came after the Kosovo authorities on August 5 closed the offices of the Serbian Post in the north, an action that was seen by Kosovo's allies as "uncoordinated and one-sided".

Hovenier said that the US has been challenged by the Prime Minister and his Government in several aspects.

"I have to say that the quality of our partnership is not what we would hope it would be on some of these issues related to how he deals with the north and how he manages the dialogue."

He added that the uncoordinated actions of the Government in the north reduce the enthusiasm of the USA to support Kosovo on its Euro-Atlantic path./REL

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