UNMIK ON AIR
By Zoran CULAFIC
Hello and welcome ... this is UNMIK ON AIR
...
Freedom of movement is one
of the top issues for minority groups in Kosovo,
particularly for the K-Serbs, but now it seems that these very K- Serbs are against
freedom of movement– in Mitrovica they do not allow
K-Albanians to cross the bridge, since UNMIK and KFOR reopened the bridge to
civilian traffic earlier this month.
Atmos ... traffic in the street ...
The bridge was reopened for
civilian traffic on June 6th, for two hours a day, one hour in the morning and
one hour in the afternoon, but citizens could not benefit from this freedom of
movement as large groups of people, both Serbs and Albanians, gathered on both
sides, and with this intimidation blocking effectively any idea of getting on
the other side.
Although recognizing that
freedom of movement is an issue that must be achieved, Serbs from the north
part of Mitrovica claim that the reopening of the
bridge is a premature move. Gathered on the north side of the bridge Serbs give
an impression of a firm commitment not to allow K-Albanians to cross the bridge.
CUT 1- We hope that we’d suppress that
initiative (not allow Albanians to cross the bridge) on a democratic way,
civilized, and ... in case of an emergency ... we are able to implement some
other “arguments”.
CUT 2- (continue) – there will be no crossing on this side
we are not naive to buy easily their claptraps They
cannot cross it, no doubt at all even if all of us have to fight and dye.
CUT 3- (continue) – It is not only that we think, but rather
we are quite sure that this decision (to reopen the bridge) is premature and it
is to serve as a political make up for Kosovo and Metohija and Mitrovica reality talking about
freedom of movement in time when 80 percent of Kosovo
and Metohija is ethnically cleansed is meaningless the
forced love is a rape, and we do not want it.
After the Kosovo conflict ended in 1999 the main bridge in Mitrovicahas been a focus for incidents and a symbol of the
divide. The March riots in 2004 virtually started on this bridge, and spread
afterwards throughout Kosovo, leaving 19 people dead
and hundreds injured, with many houses and churches destroyed and burned out.
However in recent months
the situation has improved and in the framework of transferring all
competencies to local institutions, the control over the bridge was handed over
from KFOR to the KPS and civilian traffic was allowed for two hours a day, with
the intention to expand this free flow of traffic to 24 hors a day in near
future.
Serb politicians from north
Mitrovica protested strongly against the opening of
the bridge. Milan Ivanovic was among the protesters
he accused the SRSG for, “a premature, unilateral and pro-Albanian decision” to
allow freedom of movement across the bridge in time “when there is no freedom
of movement across Kosovo”.
CUT 4- Serbs are very haggard and anxious for their
safety and concerned about possibility for them to stay and live here, and
that’s why they gathered here in such a huge number to express their readiness
to protect and defend their survival in this place.
Kosovo Albanian politicians praised the decision to reopen
the bridge and accused Serbs of blocking freedom of movement. Kosovo Albanians are gathering everyday on the southern
part of the bridge, at the same time as the Kosovo Serbs
gather on the north part.
Another prominent K-Serb
from Mitrovica Oliver Ivanovic
believes that none of the people of Kosovo would
benefit from reopening the bridge to traffic, because Serbs would not allow
Albanians to go north, and Albanians will not allow Serbs to go south.
CUT 5 – It is going to be temporary, until first incident
happens, and I do not believe that anyone of Albanians would benefit of this
opportunity to cross the bridge simply because it is not a right moment for
that. The same way as Serbs are not going to go down
to the southern part, except in police cars or heavily exported and protected.
As a compromise, Oliver Ivanovic said that he would consider it positive if KPS
Serb officers do protection of the bridge.
CUT 6– If Serb are going to control the bridge,
through KPS or some alternative ways, I would be quiet satisfied.
In the meantime, a few
hundred meters away, another bridge that connects two divided parts of Mitrovica, the bridge at so-called Bosniack
Mahalla, is opened 24 hours a day for years, and
people do cross it regularly. But, this bridge is not in political focus, and
probably that fact tells us the story.
Thanks, that is all for
today, tomorrow we will have an extended edition, reporting on the regional
movie production that is now shooting in
Good Day.