On Sunday 5 February, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini hailed the agreements on re-opening Mitrovica Bridge and on pedestrianising King Peter Street.
“The most important issues related to the pedestrianisation of King Peter Street and the reopening of Mitrovica Bridge have been successfully resolved in Pristina: the implementation of what was agreed began immediately and works have effectively started today" on Monday 6 February, Mogherini announced in a press release. Serbians destroyed the wall (2 metres long and 100 metres high and put up in December) which was supposed to protect the pedestrianised area and which divided the city (see EUROPE 11686). She stated that this would “contribute to the freedom of movement, people to people contacts and ultimately reconciliation”. “The opening of the revitalised Mitrovica Bridge and the completion of the pedestrianised King Peter Street in the nearest future will be an important achievement in the implementation of the agreements reached in the dialogue”, Mogherini stated.
In her view, these agreements are the result of discussions between the presidents and prime ministers of Kosovo and Serbia in Brussels on 24 January and 1 February (see EUROPE 11711, 11717). She reiterated that only the dialogue and political commitment would bring solutions. “Leaders in the region are demonstrating courage and vision by taking down walls and focusing on building bridges", Mogherini stated, adding that "this is very much the spirit of the EU-facilitated dialogue for normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina.
Mogherini was expected to inform ministers at the Foreign Affairs Council on 6 February about the progress in the dialogue. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)