English
Deputy Prime Minister and Transportation Minister Aleksandar Nikoloski announced today that work is already underway with Albania to find an alternative route for the Kafasan – Trebeniste highway. Nikoloski said that work on the Izvor – Garski Most section is also going well, and the Tetovo highway, which has three sections, is expected to be completed in three years.
As Nikoloski informed, by the end of the year, the law on the shores of Lake Ohrid, Prespa and Dojran should be drafted, which, as he said, will solve the current problems with the beaches.
Regarding Corridor 8, the Kafasan – Trebeniste route, the recommendation is clear – to find an alternative route, different from the one that was within the framework of the agreement, and to discuss it with Albania. We are already communicating intensively with the Republic of Albania and are considering certain options. A highway will be built, it is no longer a question of whether it will be built and that is the good news from the UNESCO recommendations. What needs to be done is just to choose an appropriate route so that it does not harm either the cultural and historical heritage or biodiversity. And this is not the first project in which the route will be changed. The highway from Gostivar to Bukojcani had one route, but there were also some issues related to ecology and protection of rare caves, one of which is perhaps the most significant in all of Southeast Europe, and we decided to change the route, to choose a route that will protect everything that needs to be protected. We will do that here too, emphasized the minister, answering questions after his visit to Struga.
Regarding the highway from Tetovo, Nikoloski said that the first kilometers of the first section Tetovo – Gostivar are expected in 2020, and the full completion in 2029.
The second part, to Bukojcani, where one of the key bridges has already been built, I expect to see completed by the end of 2029, and for the Bukojcani – Kicevo section, the EBRD decision is awaited. As soon as we have it, I will announce the deadline, but according to the first predictions, it is almost three years, Nikoloski pointed out.
He added that he is in constant communication with the mayors of Ohrid, Resen and Dojran regarding the shores of the three natural lakes.
The drafting of the law that will resolve all issues is in the final phase. So far, there has been no law on the shores of the three lakes. This is the first law, for the Ohrid region we also have a recommendation from UNESCO, which will be fully respected in the law. We have set ourselves the task of completing it by the end of the year so that the procedures are completed and by the beginning of the March – April season we will not have the situations that we have had so far, Nikoloski explained.