Pehcevo, 9 September 2022 (MIA) – The Ministry of Transport and Communications and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue their coordinative meetings with Bulgaria concerning the opening of the Klepalo border crossing near Berovo, said Transport Minister Blagoj Bochvarski on Friday. The Minister said that after a meeting with Bulgaria’s Minister of Regional Development, it was concluded that at this point it is up to Bulgaria to move things forward. The Bulgarian side informed that they are currently carrying out environmental protection studies, after which the construction of the road to the border crossing on the Bulgarian side will begin. “At the same time, we will work towards the opening of the border crossings. A mixed commission from the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been established in order to coordinate with Bulgaria on the border crossing activities. Bulgaria also needs to construct a border crossing on its side, and since we are in a more advanced stage in the process, we will continue to monitor the developments,” said Bochvarski. He pointed out that the Ministry is ready to complete all the final reconstruction and rehabilitation activities on our end, as soon as the construction of infrastructure on the Bulgarian side begins, in order to finally open this border crossing. “We are working together, because this is a project between two countries and therefore must be solved internationally. Currently they are in the process of having elections, once a new government is elected we will continue with our cooperation in order to open another border crossing to connect the citizens and to help the development of this region and Berovo and Pehcevo,” added Bochvarski. The Minister underscored that Klepalo is a border crossing of great importance for the entire region which is why the Ministry absolutely supports its realization. ad/ba/