KOSOVO: MITROVICA: SITUATION UPDATE: BRIDGE скачать в хорошем качестве

KOSOVO: MITROVICA: SITUATION UPDATE: BRIDGE

(29 Feb 2000) English/Nat French troops in Serb dominated northern Mitrovica have completed the construction of a footbridge across the river dividing the city. It's expected that in a few days, families from the southern, Albanian part of the city will cross using the bridge, which connects to the three tower blocks set aside for them by K-FOR troops. Such a move is expected to exacerbate tensions in the city. Heavy security has been laid on for the Albanians' arrival. In the meantime, the town is quiet, with troops remaining vigilant on guard by the town's main bridge. It's a sign of the commitment by NATO peacekeepers to prevent the ethnic partition of Kosovo's most tinderbox city. French K-FOR troops tested a bridge which is meant to link the ethnic Albanian side to the ethnic Serb side of the town of Kosovska Mitrovica. Stretching over the Ibar River, the footbridge will connect the ethnic Albanian part of the city to three high-rises on the northern, Serb-dominated section. NATO plans to resettle ethnic Albanians who fled from their homes in the Serb sections into apartments in the high rises. Still, in a reflection of the realities of ethnic separation, the apartment blocks are fenced off with barbed wire from the rest of the northern sector, and under constant guard by NATO troops. The testing of the bridge - located only 100 metres (yards) away from the divided city's main bridge and highway - drew sharp disapproval from local community leaders. SOUNDBITE: (English) "The bridge is bound to increase tension. It really does not solve the problem. The footbridge is essentially cosmetic, since the main bridge is just 100 metres away. The real problem to be solved is the fear within both communities." SUPER CAPTION: Oliver Ivanovic Community Leader, Serb community in northern Mitrovica Mitrovica, about 30 kilometres (about 20 miles) north of the capital Pristina, has been the scene of repeated ethnically motivated unrest over the past months. The violence has caused several deaths and dozens of injuries and has strained K-FOR's mandate. New violence there and elsewhere in the region bedevils efforts by NATO and Kosovo's U-N administration to establish normality in the province. Nearly eight months have passed since 78 days of NATO bombing forced an end to the Serb crackdown in Kosovo and the pullout of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's forces. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...