Although 23 years have passed since the end of the war and 14 years since the declaration of Kosovo's Independence, Mitrovica still remains a divided city with constant tensions. 

The last tension that occurred in the north of the country was on July 31, where the Government of Kosovo, through a decision it brought for reciprocity with Serbia on the issue of license plates and identity cards, caused a few hours before its execution to be characterized by numerous tensions.

This then caused the heads of state to meet in the Presidency with the United States of America (USA) ambassador to Kosovo, Jeff Hovenier, and postpone its execution until September 1, to create time for both parties until a agreement.

Meanwhile, tomorrow (Thursday) a meeting is expected to take place in Brussels called by the head of diplomacy of the European Union (EU), Josep Borrell, where the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti and the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, are invited to talk for all open issues.

In this regard, Telegrafi was in the north of Mitrovica to talk with the deputy chairman of the Municipal Assembly in the north of Mitrovica, Skender Sadiku, as well as its citizens.

Sadiku has said that Kosovo will be before the final act in reaching an agreement and relaxing all tensions in the municipalities of northern Kosovo.

"I hope that we are before the final act and an agreement will come," said Sadiku.

Skender Sadiku, deputy chairman of the Municipal Assembly in the north of Mitrovica / Photo: Ridvan Slivova

Sadiku added that Mitrovica and its north need peace, stability and normality.

"I hope that we are before the final act and an agreement will come that will relax the tensions expressed in the northern municipalities.

Northern Mitrovica, where I work, live and attend our daily activities, needs peace, stability and normality.

For 23 years there have been talks and agreements and I hope that it will be the final act where normality will return to all communities", said Sadiku.

He said that politics should remember that in the north of the country there are other communities, not only Albanians and Serbs.

According to him, the Government should know that the citizens in the north are facing elementary problems, such as the preparation for the beginning of the new school year.

The deputy chairman emphasized that it is a shame for the Municipal Assembly in the north of Mitrovica as well as for the Government of Kosovo that on September 1st I will find the "Kodra e Minatorëve" neighborhood, again with a container school.

North of Mitrovica /Photo: Ridvan Slivova/

"Politics is forgetting that there are other communities here, Roma, Ashkali, Egyptian Goran, who also go through the same problems as we do.

I am speaking from the citizen's point of view, it is terrible because different classes live here.

Here, September 1 is not mentioned, but reciprocity, ie.

banal things.. It is a shame for this Municipal Assembly but also for the Government that in the 21st century there is a container school in Europe, in the Hill of Miners.

Those children are traumatized, those children tomorrow will receive all segments of life, how we are preparing them", said Sadiku.

He also appealed to the heads of state to visit Mitrovica and the north of the country, and see closely how they live.

"I appeal not only to the government but also to the president, who is from Mitrovica, to see in what condition all the communities are living, and to give hope that things will get better and we will return to normality," he continued.

Skender Sadiku,

deputy chairman of the Municipal Assembly in the north of Mitrovica /Photo: Ridvan Slivova/

Tutje added that the reality is bitter for all communities.

"We have post-traumatic stress from 23 years ago.

Tensions are expected these days, there is a tension in the air which is noticeable.

I am talking about the media and the psychosis that has been created.

All communities have shown a high level of culture.

Everyone is tired.

Everyone wants a good life for their children too.

We want to choose elementary problems.

There is no good way before the municipality, and we hope that one day we will talk about these things and choose these elementary problems that the citizens in the north are facing.

No Albanian firefighters work in the north, there is no doctor in the hospital.

We do not want all institutions to be politicized.

Even the prime minister of Kosovo is the prime minister of all.

Rakiq is the minister of the Kurti government and I appeal to him to come and deal with the problems of the returnee community", he said.

Sadiku believes that the city of Mitrovica will be a city that will return to its perspective, a city of miners, of rock, of sports and not a city of problems or division.

"The city of Mitrovica will be a city whose perspective will return, a city of miners, of rock, of sports, not as a city of problems, a city of division, but with the values ​​it has.

It is absurd that in the whole world the bridge unites, while in us it divides".

North of Mitrovica /Photo: Ridvan Slivova/

July 31 alarm, "ghost city"

As for July 31, he said that the alarm has stressed him.

Sadiku emphasized that the ambulance alarms were also activated, while he said about the northern city of Mitrovica that it turned into a "ghost city".

"Even the alarm has stress on all of us.

But there was another ambulance alarm that traumatized us all.

They have done a very dirty job, it is a misuse of a vehicle that gives you a sign that someone is sick.

That day I was in the field, the city was a ghost, family members were drawn to the south, Serbs were drawn to urban areas and in areas that were really expecting someone to be victimized, they were not victimized.

A civic maturity has been shown", he said, adding that he hopes that the solution will come as soon as possible since, as he said, "the prerequisites are that we have to live together".

Citizens talk about the north and tensions

Citizen Fevzi Beqiri told the Telegraph that unfortunately, since the war, Mitrovica has always had problems.

Fevzi Beqiri, citizen /Photo: Ridvan Slivova/

"Unfortunately, since the war, we always have problems.

This part remained under the occupation of Serbian forces.

We have no rights in our homeland.

Unfortunately, this situation continues to be chaotic.

Love for country knows no sacrifice.

We faced them, because we were unique as a neighborhood", said Beqiri.

Even the citizen, Sinan Baliu from the south of Mitrovica, who is a merchant, said that in general, it is not as good as it was before.

Sinan Baliu, citizen /Photo: Ridvan Slivova/

"In general, it is not as good as it was before.

At the moment, the crisis is everywhere and it has become worse, this part of us", he said.

The citizen from the south of Mitrovica, Bali Tahiri, says the same, who said that life in Mitrovica is not good.

As for the alarms in the north of Mitrovica, he said that this happens because of ongoing tensions.

Bali Tahiri, citizen /Photo: Ridvan Slivova/

"Life in Mitrovica is not good, because of the situation.

And we are worried about this part.

I have no problems... We are used to alarm.

When we hear the alarm, we know that there is something behind it, not some barricade, not something... we have learned", said Tahiri, among other things.

/Telegraph/ 

North of Mitrovica /Photo: Ridvan Slivova/