The European Union has said that statements about the possible change in the course of the Iber River, as well as actions that do not serve the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, should be avoided.
“Progress in the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia can only be achieved through dialogue”a spokesperson for the European Commission said on August 11.
“Statements, including those about possible changes to the course of the river, and actions that do not support this goal should be avoided“, says the response of the European Commission to Radio Free Europe.
The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, stated on August 9 that the Serbian authorities are examining with experts the possibility of changing the course of the Ibri, linking this to the destruction of Serb houses and villas near Lake Ujman, in the north of Kosovo.
His statement prompted harsh reactions from officials in Kosovo and was followed by a public clash between officials from Albania and Serbia.
The European Commission also recalled that progress in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina is a prerequisite for both sides to advance on their European path. The EU also commented on the recent destruction in the Ujman Lake area, with which the president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, had linked his statement about the possibility of changing the course of the Ibri.
“As for the situation in the lake of Gazivoda/Ujman, we have already expressed our concerns regarding the recent destruction”. is said in response.
According to the European Commission, any enforcement measure with irreversible consequences must respect due process.
“Affected persons must be given effective opportunities to seek legal protection and, where applicable, interim judicial protection before the measure is implemented”says the answer.
The Ibër River, about 270 kilometers long, originates in Montenegro, passes through Serbia and then enters Kosovo, where it supplies the artificial lake of Ujman. About two thirds of this lake are located in the territory of Kosovo. Water from the Ujman and Ibër-Lepenci system supplies seven municipalities, is used for irrigation and for cooling the thermal power plants in Obiliq, which produce most of the electricity in Kosovo.
Experts who have previously spoken to Radio Free Europe have said that diverting the flow of the Ibri is technically possible, but would be extremely costly and, if it were to cause damage to Kosovo, would be in violation of the principles of international law on transboundary waters. Serbia is a signatory to the 1997 United Nations Convention on the Use of International Watercourses for Purposes Other than Navigation. This convention defines, among other things, the principle of fair and reasonable use of transboundary waters, as well as the obligation not to cause significant damage to other states. Kosovo is not a party to this convention, as it is not a member of the United Nations. /REL/
