UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) has failed in Mitrovica and the closure as soon as possible of this mission will possitively affect the development of the northern Kosovo city, said in an interview for Radio Free Europe, the mayor of Mitrovica Municipality, Bajram Rexhepi.

 

Regarding the latest report by the International Crisis Group which warns that the division of the city could be deepened, Rexhepi said that ICG has raised some serious concerns critical of UNMIK mission, which has not done enough to maintain law and order and has tolerated parallel structures to run in the city, which according to him is a "a bad signal."

"So I rather understand it as a criticism towards UNMIK, as a raising of the concern, than as a reality, for the reason that Kosovo is a sovereign state, independent, accepted internationally by a large number of states so there are no chances of divsion," said Mitrovica mayor.

But he added that the function of some central functions has deterirorated in the nothern part. "So, I will say once again that [the ICG report] deals more with raising of concerns and a critique of UNMIK and in the future EULEX to do more to maintain law and order in the norther part."

Asked whether he thinks that UNMIK has failed in Mitrovica, Rexhepi said: "It has failed."

"This was accepted publicly a few months ago when Mr. Joachim Ruecker said that UNMIK has not done enough in the last years, which translated in common language means it has failed," said Rexhepi.