The issue of the bridge over the river Ibër/Kurti: Neither will we surprise the allies, but neither will it drag on indefinitely

2024-08-19 22:00:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The issue of the bridge over the river Ibër/Kurti: Neither will we surprise

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said during an interview for the Voice of America that the opening of the bridge over the Iber River, for the circulation of vehicles, will be based on a plan that his government, as he said, has shared with American and European partners. . He added that Prishtina has conducted consultations with the Serbian community in the north and south of Kosovo, as well as tested the physical and technical stability of the bridge over the Iber.

He said that in relation to this issue, Kosovo aims not to surprise its partners on the one hand, but on the other hand, not to allow this issue to drag on indefinitely.

Mr. Kurti also spoke about the clashes with the West as well as the criticism of the opposition for lack of coordination with the allies on many issues. But according to the Prime Minister of Kosovo, the differences in attitudes have never been in goals, value of principles, but only in strategy, tactics and operations.

Mr. Kurti made his comments from the premises where the National Assembly of the American Democratic Party is being held, invited by the National Democratic Institute (NDI).

VOA: Mr. Kurti, starting today for 4 days, Democrats will gather in what is usually a celebratory party parade. But in addition to the normal developments within the work of the Assembly, usually such activities are accompanied by other meetings, outside the hall. What is your goal during these days in Chicago?

Albin Kurti: This National Assembly of Democrats in the United States of America is historic. On the one hand, we have unprecedented and unprecedented circumstances even for the United States of America, while on the other hand, we have an extraordinary enthusiasm and vitality of democracy, which is unique to the whole world. In this National Assembly of Democrats, I will have the opportunity to hold several important meetings, but it should be noted that I have been invited here as the Prime Minister of a democratic state and as the head of a social democratic political entity. Especially in recent years, Kosovo has marked a rapid economic development with 6.2 percent of the Gross Domestic Product as an average economic growth, but also an outstanding democratic progress, since also in terms of the rule of law and the fight against corruption, freedom of media, political rights and civil liberties, Kosovo is a champion in the Western Balkans. Therefore, we have something to tell our American friends and partners about Kosovo's successes and at the same time learn from their experiences, which are invaluable.

Voice of America: However, Mr. Prime Minister, in recent days you have clashed with the West again, regarding your decision to open the main bridge over the Iber River in Mitrovica to car traffic. All the diplomats accredited in Kosovo and the officials of the peacekeeping forces requested that you do not do this, now. Have you changed your mind about this issue?

Albin Kurti: With our European and American partners, we never, in any situation, have differences in terms of goals, values ??and principles. Rarely, we have differences in strategies, tactics and operations. But usually these remarkable differences, because they are rare, become big news. Meanwhile, the usual compatibility is what fails to make the news. Even in this case, we have a similar situation, the bridge over the river Ibër had to be opened when Kosovo was liberated 25 years ago. It should not have been closed when Kosovo became independent 16 years ago. It should have been open eight years ago, based on the Brussels agreement and the implementation plan. In this way, we are three times delayed for many years and what we want to do is free movement for all citizens, goods and capital. On both sides of the river Ibër there should be rule of law, which does not exclude anyone, and this represents the very breath of the democratic state. You must understand that we can say that the rule of law and free movement apply everywhere in Kosovo, for everyone, all the time, except for the main bridge over the Ibër river. We are listening carefully to all comments and suggestions. There has never been more consultation and coordination, and I am optimistic that we will have both the rule of law and freedom of movement on one side, and peace, security and tranquility on the other. The opening of the bridge over the river Ibër in Mitrovica is not against anyone. It is for the Serbian community, for the Albanians, for the Bosniaks and for all other minorities, such as the Turks, the Egyptians, the Ashkalis and the Roma. This is for all citizens of our democratic republic. Europe has broken down all the walls. We are in Europe and we have to open this bridge as well.

Voice of America: Mr. Prime Minister, when you say that you are listening to the suggestions, do you mean that you can postpone the decision?

Albin Kurti: We are interested in opening the bridge based on the plan, which we have shared with our partners, friends, American and European allies. We held consultations with the Serbian community in the north of Kosovo and in the south. Consultations have been made with the Albanians, as well as with the northern and southern municipalities of Mitrovica. We have also tested the physical and technical stability of the bridge over the Iber and we are doing a design, decoration, because we must also take care of the visual appearance of this bridge. We want to do it as soon as possible. But neither will we surprise our European and American partners, friends and allies on the one hand, but on the other hand, nor will we be able to allow this issue to drag on indefinitely. Our will and intention are good and we believe that the opening of this bridge is right, necessary, good and beneficial for everyone.

Voice of America: Mr. Prime Minister, the opposition is unhappy with you, demands that the actions in the north be coordinated with the allies, especially with the United States, and criticizes you that situations like this with the bridge are being used for electoral purposes. How do you respond to these criticisms?

Albin Kurti: I had hoped that we would have elections in June or July. Then I had hoped that we would have elections in the fall of this year, but since the elections will be on February 9 next year, it cannot be said that this is related to the electoral campaign. On the contrary, the political entity Vetëvendosje, which I lead, is very comfortable towards new elections. The support for us is even greater now, than in the spring of 2021. What we are doing is the rule of law in a sovereign, democratic and independent state for the benefit of all communities without distinction.

Free movement is something that cannot be negotiated because it is a fundamental right, but at the same time, I understand our partners who have concerns about security breaches and with our plan we are minimizing all of that. fears, or perceptions of fear, that exist in anyone in this period. So also for the benefit of the opposition, we believe that it is good to jointly realize this opening of the bridge, since the agreement for the opening of the bridge was made in Brussels precisely by those who used to be the government, and today are in the opposition.

Voice of America: Mr. Prime Minister, the European Union says that this issue should be discussed in Brussels with Serbia, although it has agreed that it was discussed earlier. Are you willing to re-discuss this issue in Brussels?

Albin Kurti: The discussions in Brussels took place in the years 2014-2017 and they ended not only with an agreement on the opening of the bridge, but also with an agreement on an implementation plan on how the bridge should be opened. The deadline was January 20, 2017. If an agreement has been made and there is a discussion about the agreement, this is an indirect way of violating the agreement. We are not ready to participate in the violation of the agreement and the freedom of movement over the river Iber, at the main bridge in Mitrovica, should not be renegotiated.

The bridge is a crossing, it is crossing the river. We cannot cross the bridge, because there have often been suggestions that other bridges are sufficient. We can't make the bridge, the bridge. The bridge bridges the Ibër river for the benefit of the citizens and we insist on this.

Voice of America: Mr. Prime Minister, a year and a half has passed since the moment you agreed in Brussels and Ohrid on a normalization agreement, but almost no steps have been taken towards its implementation. If you do not start with the implementation of the agreement on the establishment of the Association and Serbia refuses to fulfill the obligations leading to the de facto recognition of Kosovo, a status quo, or a kind of frozen conflict, may be created. Do you have a plan B to overcome the situation?

Albin Kurti: We cannot have plan B if plan A is not respected and if there is no good will and good faith of the parties. It is true that a year and a half has passed since we made the agreement in Brussels, the basic agreement, to which the implementation annex was also attached, from Ohrid. We respect the agreement, we are ready for it to be implemented, but we cannot have a partnership in implementation, as long as there is non-compliance. In December of last year, the former prime minister of Serbia, Bernabi?, practically with a public and official letter addressed to the 27 of the European Union, withdrew on behalf of Serbia from the basic agreement. So Serbia must return to the agreement, respect it, so that we can implement it. Within this agreement are also the 39 previous agreements that my predecessors made in Brussels. I am very interested, as well as ready, to treat them with precision and commitment, in order to normalize the relations between Kosovo and Serbia, which of course should have at their heart what the American President Biden has called, mutual recognition, that is, where Kosovo recognizes Serbia because Serbia recognizes Kosovo.

Voice of America: Mr. Prime Minister, you are in Chicago as part of one of your rare visits to the United States, and according to critics, this reflects a decline in the level of relations between Kosovo and its main allies. Are you worried that these relationships have been seriously damaged?

Albin Kurti: I don't believe that there is any damage to relations. It is true that I do not resemble the prime ministers who have been in the Republic of Kosovo before me, but I believe that the relations I am building with the United States of America are stronger than ever. We have made the largest contract ever with the Millennium Challenge Corporation, $236 million, for batteries for renewable energy, and in addition we are buying Javelin anti-tank systems from the United States of America because we want to strengthen our army. The Kosovo Security Force has co-landed with the American army in Kuwait and in every aspect, in trade, in energy, in the economy, and then our cooperation with USAID brought Kosovo's assessment to 2B minus, which is the first assessment from Fitch Ratings, an international organization for our economy, in the international economic arena. Cooperation with the US has expanded and deepened, sporadic disagreements, never for values, principles and goals, but sometimes, for strategies, tactics and operations, become big news. I believe that the United States of America has many reasons to be proud of Kosovo's achievements, more than ever before, and to its development and construction, they have contributed like no other.

Voice of America: Mr. Prime Minister, in a few months the presidential elections will be held in the United States, which are being followed closely all over the world. A part of the NATO leaders have expressed their concern in case of administrative change, considering Mr. Donald Trump's attitudes towards NATO. Are you concerned in this regard, given your relationship with the former Trump administration?

Albin Kurti: Undoubtedly, we have a situation in which the Republican Party in the United States of America has an unusual candidate, so we are talking about former President Donald Trump, who in relation to NATO has had as his main remark , that member states will have to reach the 2 percent quota in defense and security spending. In this aspect, I believe that Kosovo is on the bright side, because we have already reached the quota of 2 percent of the Gross Domestic Product, since we have doubled defense spending, we have tripled weapon spending, and we have quadrupled the training abroad for the soldiers of the Kosovo Security Force. We, the United States of America, see them as a partner and in the main preoccupation of former President Trump, Kosovo receives a positive grade there as well. Of course, this does not change the fact that I, as the head of the political entity and as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, remain a democrat, remain a social democrat./ Voa