English
Macedonia and Bulgaria today signed an agreement for the joint construction of tunnel between Kriva Palanka and Kustendil, that will enable a railroad link between the two countries. The project was blocked by a mix of political and logistical issues, but the two Deputy Prime Ministers and Transportation Ministers – Aleksandar Nikoloski and Grozdan Karadzov – were able to overcome the political issues.
This agreement is the dream of generations from both sides of the borther, something that we read about, that the capitals of the two countries should be connected by a railroad link. We are strongly committed to building and modernizing the railroad. We will work very seriously, with dedication and I hope we will see results soon, said Nikoloski.
Deputy Prime Minister Nikoloski also rebuffed an attempt by a journalist from the nationalist BGNES outlet, who pushed him to apologize for his previous comments about the botched protocol during the visit by President Siljanovska to Bulgaria. “You and your colleagues tried to create a political problem, but fortunately you failed, and we are here today”, Nikoloski told BGNES.
Macedonia built the first stretch of the missing railroad link, from Kumanovo to Beljakovce. The second section, to Kriva Palanka, is under construction and should be finished by October 2026. The most challenging final section that needs to go under Mt. Osogovo will require the completion of a 2.4 kilometers long tunnel.
