The Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Dimitar Kovacevski, participated today in the ceremony organized at the Qafë Thana border crossing, where the joint border control between Albania and North Macedonia comes into effect today.

The Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku, customs officials of the border crossing point, citizens, etc., were also present at the organized ceremony.

In his speech, Prime Minister Kovacevski said that “the result of this cooperation is the fact that we are here together at the Qafë Thane border crossing where we mark the beginning of “One stop – One control”, the work of the two ministries of the Interior and customs. Today we enable faster circulation of citizens and companies that transport products at the largest border crossing between the two countries”.

“Enabling the movement of people and capital increases connections between people, communication between people, increases association between the two states, something that was missing for half a century between Albania and Macedonia at that time. But this is already a thing of the past. Today we are an example of how two neighboring countries should behave. With this agreement, the work of 11 companies oriented towards export and trade with other countries is facilitated, so we enable easier access to the ports of Albania, but also to the touristic places of Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia”, Kovacevski underlined.

Prime Minister Kovacevski said that “today we mark the beginning of “One stop – One control” between the two border crossings, but the 8th corridor on the side of Albania and North Macedonia is also being built, which will become a reality in 5 years”.

“In 5 years we will have the best infrastructure in the Balkans. Second, together with Albania, Bulgaria, Italy, we managed to put Corridor 8 on the map of trans-European corridors, which means that this corridor can receive funding from the EU and for the railway project between Albania and North Macedonia. To have a port in Struga that will have positive effects on North Macedonia. The ships will arrive in Struga, where until now no one thought about it”, Kovacevski emphasized.

Prime Minister Kovacevski reiterated that “I am one of those who repeats that in the Balkans we do not need them at the border. There are no borders in Europe, there is no reason to have them in the Balkans either. Therefore, political reports are at the highest level. Bilateral relations are better than ever.”

He further said that “from tomorrow there is an increase in the capacities of employees in Qafë-Thane, but also in infrastructure, where qeues at the border will be less”.

Kovacevski said that “when we started with the Open Balkans initiative, the trade exchange between Albania and North Macedonia increased by 40% and by 15% between North Macedonia and Serbia”.

/k.s/