US expresses concern over recent moves in Kosovo affecting local Serbs

BELGRADE, Serbia

The US on Thursday expressed concern over the Kosovo government's latest decisions on ethnic Serbs living in the country’s north.

''We are concerned by the continuing uncoordinated decisions by the leadership of Kosovo. We believe they put at risk the opportunities that we have helped Kosovo create,'' said Matthew Miller, State Department spokesperson.

Miller said that the US would encourage Kosovo to return to close and constructive engagement with the United States, with the EU, NATO, and other close international partners.

The US on Wednesday urged Kosovo to heed the advice of its longstanding Western supporters to ease tensions that have again risen with the Serbs.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti called on the Serb community to take part in discussions on the opening of a bridge across the Ibar River in the divided city of Mitrovica.

Kurti's call followed the closure of Serbian post office branches in the northern part of the country, where many ethnic Serbs live.

The move prompted protests and caused the European Union to slam the decision.

The US also urged the government to cease further unilateral actions.

A similar action was carried out by Kosovo authorities less than three months ago, after which all financial institutions of the Republic of Serbia in Kosovo were closed.

Kosovo declared its unilateral independence from Serbia on Feb. 17, 2008, but Serbia still sees Kosovo as its "own territory."

Bridge divides public in Kosovo

The Kosovo government wants the bridge opened to allow free movement between the majority-Serb north and ethnic Albanian areas in the city of Mitrovica, which is divided into a northern and southern municipality.

The bridge is currently under the control of NATO's peacekeeping mission in Kosovo (KFOR) with a permanent troop presence and patrols in the area around the bridge. Italian KFOR patrols with several jeeps are constantly stationed on the north side of the bridge, while Kosovo police patrol the south side.

KFOR warned on Tuesday saying that they would respond to any possible deterioration of the security situation at the bridge.

About 600 Serbs protested on Wednesday in North Mitrovica against Kosovo’s announcement that they will open the main bridge on the Ibar to traffic, saying they do not feel safe.

KFOR reiterated its position that all decisions on the opening of the main bridge over the Ibar in Mitrovica must be made within the dialogue in Brussels.

The Ibar bridge has been closed to traffic since the end of the war in Kosovo in 1999 and can only be crossed on foot. The bridge was often a place of conflict between Serbs and Albanians.

The municipality of North Mitrovica on Thursday held a public meeting and discussion with citizens, civil society activists, and local media representatives.

The discussion was meant to inform the public about the advantages of opening the bridge, so the representatives of Kosovo institutions would respond to their concerns.

The issue of the bridge's opening was closed in 2016 and is no longer part of the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, said Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla during a Wednesday tour of the bridge.

A series of recent steps by the government have raised tensions in the country, including making the euro the only legal currency in Kosovo, effectively outlawing use of the Serbian dinar.