At the meeting with Osmani, Ulutas confirms KFOR's position regarding Kosovska Mitrovica bridge

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KFOR commander Ozkan Ulutas met with the president of the provisional institutions of Pristina, Vjosa Osmani, and confirmed the long-standing position of KFOR when it comes to the bridge on the Ibar River in Kosovska Mitrovica, this mission announced.

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A KFOR statement on X said that at yesterday's meeting, Ulutas and Osmani discussed the current situation and other topics related to security and regional stability.

"Major-General Ulutas underlined the importance of constant coordination with his colleagues," the statement said.

Osmani stated after the meeting that the opening the bridge "is an act of normalization and integration in the interest of all citizens, regardless of ethnicity" - but added that, "long-term and lasting success is always achieved together with allies."

On August 13, Ulutas discussed the bridge in Kosovska Mitrovica with the prime minister of the provisional institutions in Pristina, Albin Kurti, and after that meeting, KFOR announced that any decision regarding the bridge must be made through political dialogue and that it is necessary for all actors to refrain from unilateral actions that could create tensions.

KFOR also stated that the mission will not hesitate to respond to any relevant security developments, in accordance with the mandate based on UN (Security Council) Resolution 1244. That mission, whose members are permanently stationed on the bridge, has repeated this position several times.

Pristina meanwhile announced the opening of the main bridge in Kosovska Mitrovica, which divides the city into the southern part inhabited by ethnic Albanians and the northern part, where mostly Serbs live.

That's despite Belgrade and the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija being opposed to this, pointing out that it threatens the security and survival of Serbs in the province.

The opening of the bridge on the Ibar is currently opposed by the US, the EU, the Quint, and the OSCE, who believe that the issue should be part of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

(Telegraf.rs/Tanjug)