Workers work on the northern part of the bridge during the revitalization process in Mitrovica, Kosovo, Oct. 17, 2015. Revitalization process of the main bridge in the divided Serb-dominated north and Albanian-dominated south city of Mitrovica started on Saturday afternoon. The agreement for the revitalization of the bridge, which for the last 16 years symbolized the division of the city, was reached this summer during the EU-facilitated dialogue in Brussels between Pristina and Belgrade. (Xinhua/Safet Kabashaj)
MITROVICA, Kosovo, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Revitalization process of the main bridge in the divided Serb-dominated north and Albanian-dominated south city of Mitrovica started on Saturday afternoon.
The agreement for the revitalization of the bridge, which for the last 16 years symbolized the division of the city, was reached this summer during the EU-facilitated dialogue in Brussels between Pristina and Belgrade.
It was planned to start on Oct. 15, but the EU postponed the start since the two sides failed to reach a deal about the administrative border line between the two municipalities, Mitrovica North and Mitrovica South. Negotiations on this matter will continue, the EU Office in Kosovo announced.
Mayor of Mitrovica South Agim Bahtiri expressed his pleasure over the start of the work. Addressing the media over the bridge, shortly after the works commenced, Bahtiri thanked EU, the United States, and his Serbian counterpart from Mitrovica North Goran Rakic for the efforts in making this process possible.
"I'm pleased that the works started today and I hope they will be finalized in due time so this bridge will be open in June 2016 for everyone, both Albanians and Serbs," said Bahtiri.
The contracted company started to put on barriers on both sides of the bridge and will work until June 2016 when the bridge is supposed to be ready and accessible for crossing. In the northern side of the bridge local Serbs have established a park, named Peace Park and have been preventing anyone aiming to cross the bridge. Earlier the bridge was blocked with gravel and concrete material.
In contrast to previous attempts to open the bridge, today only a few people showed here, from both sides, and witnessed the start of the revitalization process of the bridge without any reaction.
