Kosovo Demolishes Controversial Serb-Built Wall

The demolition of the contested two-metre-high concrete wall near the bridge across the Ibar River in North Mitrovica took place on Sunday without incident, although police were in attendance to ensure order.

An agreement to remove the wall was reached at lengthy meeting between local Kosovo Serb leaders and Pristina officials on Saturday which was intended to defuse the tensions caused by the dispute over the construction.

It was signed by the mayor of North Mitrovica, Goran Rakic, and Kosovo's environment minister, Ferat Shala, and witnessed by Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, his deputy, the US ambassador and the EU special representative in Kosovo.

The agreement "will ease tensions in the north of Kosovo, assist the freedom of movement and create an ambiance that will benefit all citizens in North and South Mitrovica", the EU mission said in a statement.

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci also welcomed the deal.

"The agreement between central and local institutions in Kosovo to demolish the wall in North Mitrovica is proof that any problem can be resolved through inter-institutional dialogue when there is a willingness to find solutions," Thaci wrote on Facebook afterwards.

Parliamentary chairman Kadri Veseli wrote on Facebook that there would be "no dividing walls in Kosovo".

"Our institutions and the citizens of our independent state, the Republic of Kosovo, are determined to have communication and freedom of movement, in addition to economic development, a democratic spirit and the rule of law," Veseli said.

Mayor Rakic said meanwhile that a new 1.2-metre-high wall will be built at a different location, local media reported.

Serbs in Mitrovica started building the wall in December near the bridge that ethnically...