Vučić's 'Impossible' Plan to Divert Ibar River Sparks Alarm

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić's suggestion to alter the course of the Ibar River has drawn sharp criticism and disbelief from experts, who label the idea "walking in a dream" and "impossible to execute in a short time." Jovan Despotović, a retired professor of hydro-engineering and hydrology, stated that the project would necessitate demolishing mountains and is incompatible with European regulations. The proposal, which Vučić presented as a sovereign right of Serbia to undertake on its territory, is seen as a response to pressure from Kosovo and measures imposed by Pristina.

The Ibar River and its water system, including the Gazivode Lake which straddles the border, are crucial for Kosovo's water supply, agriculture, and energy production. The river originates in Montenegro, flows through Serbia and Kosovo, and eventually joins the West Morava River in Serbia. Any alteration upstream of Gazivode Lake would directly impact the entire water system, causing significant unease in Kosovo and international circles.

Pristina emphasizes that international law and conventions on transboundary water resources explicitly forbid using water as a weapon or a tool for political pressure. Experts in Serbia echo these concerns, warning that such a monumental undertaking could take decades. It would require vast financial investment and extensive earthworks, including tunnels and dams, through the mountainous terrain of the Dinaric Alps, potentially leading to an ecological catastrophe in the entire basin.

The idea of redirecting the Ibar River dates back to 1985, linked to the Memorandum of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SANU). While it was politically discussed then, the project was ultimately abandoned. Deutsche Welle notes that Vučić is not short of megalomaniacal ideas, making it difficult to ascertain whether this is a typical performance for a domestic audience or a serious intention. Regardless, Vučić has initiated the formation of a working group of engineers and construction experts to explore the feasibility of changing the Ibar's course.

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walking in a dream and that it is a project that is impossible to carry out in a short time without demolishing hills and mountains, and it is not an option according to European regulations either.