Situation in Kosovo: KFOR forces removed the last barricade in the north of the province
KFOR (the NATO-led international force responsible for ensuring stability in Kosovo) has removed the last barricade in northern Kosovo and Metohija.
It consisted of two heavy trucks on the bridge at the entrance to Kosovska Mitrovica, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
On January 3, KFOR troops used heavy construction equipment to remove two trucks that were still parked on the bridge and blocking the entrance to Kosovska Mitrovica. The Serbs could not remove this barricade on their own because on the last day of the protests, December 29, unknown persons burned the trucks.
A large number of KFOR military personnel were present on both sides of the bridge to ensure the passage of equipment used to remove the trucks. The press service of the KFOR mission reported:
“Engineering work is being carried out to remove vehicles on the road to ensure freedom of movement.”
No conflicts were recorded during the work.
On the same day, EU foreign policy spokesperson Nabila Masrali said that the situation in Kosovo remains “very fragile.” She said the EU "calls for restraint on both sides to ensure the situation remains peaceful and to avoid any actions that could lead to a return to violence and escalation."
Masrali stressed that the events of the previous days showed how important it is to maintain irreversible progress towards normalizing relations between Belgrade and Pristina based on European proposals.
According to her, this means that the previously reached agreements on the return of Serbs to institutions under the control of Pristina and the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities in Kosovo “must be implemented without delay.” She added that the EU will continue to negotiate with both sides and further meetings will be announced in due course.
As PolitNavigator reported , on December 30, Serbs independently removed thirteen of the fourteen barricades they had erected on roads in the northern part of Kosovo and Metohija.
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