Closing the branches of the Serbian Post in the North, Sweden defends the decision: What Kosovo is doing is something normal

2024-08-06 16:09:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Closing the branches of the Serbian Post in the North, Sweden defends the

Jelal Svechla. Minister of Interior of Kosovo

The Minister of Internal Affairs of Kosovo, Xhelal Sveçla, has defended the action of the Kosovo authorities taken on August 5, when nine branches of the Post of Serbia were closed in the north of Kosovo, inhabited by a majority of Serbs.

During a visit to North Mitrovica, Sveçla was asked by journalists about the action, which was criticized by the United States and the European Union.

"What the Kosovo institutions are doing is very normal. They did not have a license", said Sveçla.

A day ago, the Kosovo Police said that the action took place after the information received by the Regulatory Authority of Electronic and Postal Communications (ARKEP) that economic operators are operating in the territory of Kosovo without a license and who are not registered with the Registration Agency of Businesses in Kosovo (ARBK).

The authorities closed three facilities in North Mitrovica and Leposaviq, two in Zveçan, and one in Zubin Potok.

The European Union criticized the action, saying it was a unilateral and uncoordinated action by the Kosovo authorities.

The bloc argued that such an action violates the dialogue for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, which is mediated by the EU.

The United States also said that they are "deeply disappointed" about the closing of the branches of the Post of Serbia.

The American Embassy in Pristina said that Kosovo's "uncoordinated actions put Kosovo citizens and KFOR soldiers at great risk, fuel unnecessary escalation of regional tensions, and undermine Kosovo's reputation as a reliable international partner."

The closure of the facilities was also condemned by the officials of the Post of Serbia, Lista Serbe, and the state institutions of Serbia.

Sveçla, during his stay in North Mitrovica, was asked if the bridge over the Ibër river that separates South Mitrovica, inhabited by an Albanian majority, and that of North Mitrovica, inhabited by a Serbian majority, should be opened for traffic.

"The bridge will be opened, there is no reason why it should not be opened. Now, when it will be opened is a matter of experts' assessment", he said.

The Government of Kosovo has recently reiterated its position that the bridge should be opened for traffic.

At the beginning of August, the Kosovar Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, presented to the diplomatic representatives of the QUINT countries and the EU the Government's plan for the opening of the bridge over the Iber River.

"The plan foresees tests for the infrastructural stability of the bridge, assessment of risk and risks from natural disasters, visual revitalization of the bridge with access to the bridge for all, discussions with citizens and interest groups as well as a comprehensive information campaign on the benefits and goals of the opening of the bridge", said the Government on August 2.

But the opening of the bridge is opposed by the international community. The EU, meanwhile, is asking that the issue of the bridge be a topic of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia.

In the framework of the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, the parties have agreed to open the bridge for traffic, but this has never been realized in practice. Only one side of it is open for pedestrians.

Discussions about the bridge have been updated in recent months, after calls to the North Mitrovica Municipal Assembly for the bridge to be fully opened for traffic. This municipality in the north of Kosovo is led by Erden Atiq from the ruling party, Vetëvendosje Movement./REL