KFOR’s announcement on the gradual transition of its presence over the main bridge on the Ibër River was welcomed and viewed as positive news, at least by Albanian residents of Mitrovica.

A day after the announcement, on Tuesday, only one patrol of Italian Carabinieri and several Kosovo Police patrols were seen on the bridge.

Former deputy chair of the Municipal Assembly of North Mitrovica, Skender Sadiku, said this was good news because, according to him, bridges connect people.

Speaking to KosovaPress, Sadiku said the “wonderful news” would be the opening of the bridge.

“I think bridges connect people, bridges connect nations. I think this bridge, which for a long time has been a symbol of division, is a good example. It is good news, and I think it is part of the continuation of the process, because for a long time there have not been any interethnic incidents. A normal process has begun, I think, and it is very good news. But the wonderful news will be when the bridge is opened for traffic and there is no longer a need for it to be monitored, either by our international friends or by the police,” Sadiku said.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said yesterday that he would begin considering the possibility of changing the course of the Ibër River. Sadiku described this as an absurdity and called it “stupidity of its own kind.”

Meanwhile, former journalist Izedin Krasniqi said the process already has a history.

Speaking to KosovaPress, Krasniqi said that as early as January 2005, KFOR had decided that fixed patrols should be replaced with mobile patrols, but the entire process had taken time and faced challenges and, as a result, had remained in place until now.

Meanwhile, resident Fetah Isufi said the transfer of responsibility to the Kosovo Police is very positive, recalling memories from his childhood at the Ibër Bridge.