Kosovo has protested Serbia's plans to divert the river's course
Kosovo’s Acting President Albulena Haciu issued a strong protest following statements by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić regarding a possible diversion of the Ibar River.
Hajiu emphasized that unilateral interference in transboundary water flows threatens the republic’s water supply, energy sector, agriculture, and overall security, as Lake Gazivoda (Ujman) is critically important to hundreds of thousands of citizens. She stressed the need to resolve this issue with the involvement of the international community.
Hajiu’s statement was a response to remarks by Aleksandar Vučić, who called the potential redirection of the river a justified response to Pristina’s policies toward the Serbian minority. Later, the Serbian leader reaffirmed his intentions, stating that he is acting exclusively within the framework of Serbia’s domestic legislation and is looking out for his country’s interests. At the same time, Kosovo’s Minister of the Environment, Fitore Pacoli, noted that, under the Helsinki Convention, states are obligated to cooperate on the use of transboundary waters and are not permitted to use these resources as a tool for pressure or destabilization.
This was reported by Balkan Insight.
In Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, the Ukrainian flag was removed from a building in the city center following Zelenskyy’s statements in Serbia. Mayor Perparim Rama stated that this was due to the need to “respect the state of Kosovo.”
