Skopje, 30 July 2024 (MIA) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade said in a press release Tuesday that the Republic of North Macedonia is aware of the strategic importance of Corridor VIII and is taking various activities aimed at regional connectivity and completion of the west-east axis, noting that for a successful realization of projects it is important for Bulgaria to be ready to cooperate as well.

The Ministry said North Macedonia is firmly committed to the realization of established goals within NATO and the construction of regional infrastructure, as part of the European network of corridors.

“Considering the geopolitical position of transport corridors VIII and IX, the Republic of North Macedonia is taking all necessary activities to complete their construction and modernization. In terms of road infrastructure, the construction of the express motorway from Kumanovo to Kriva Palanka is set to be completed this year, and through the completed rehabilitation of the road from Kriva Palanka to the border of Bulgaria as well, representing a total investment of EUR 105 million,” the Ministry said in a press release.

The Ministry also noted that the Skopje-Kumanovo motorway section has been rehabilitated as well, reducing the time needed to travel from Skopje to Sofia to less than 2 hours and 30 minutes.

“Regarding railway Corridor VIII, North Macedonia is aware of the geostrategic importance of this corridor and is realizing numerous activities aimed at regional connectivity and completion of the west-east axis. In that context, we would like to emphasize that the railway from Kumanovo to Beljakovce is currently being constructed, which represents an investment of EUR 40 million. Additionally, we note that the Beljakovce-Kriva Palanka railway is also currently under construction, an investment worth EUR 155 million. We are also in the stage of selecting a contractor for the construction of the final section [of the railway] from Kriva Palanka to the Deve Bair border crossing, a railway which ends in an assumed tunnel,” the Ministry said.

The Foreign Ministry said North Macedonia has also fulfilled all obligations arising from the 1993 Bilateral Agreement for the construction of the Berovo – Klepalo border crossing, as well as the infrastructure to the border crossing.

“Considering the aforementioned, we once again stress that North Macedonia is taking all necessary activities for the construction of several significant regional infrastructure projects which are of shared strategic importance for the country, the region and the European Union. In that sense, we state that with the goal of a successful realization of these projects, it is especially important that there is a complete readiness for cooperation on the Bulgarian side as well. Therefore, we sincerely expect Bulgaria to take all necessary activities aimed at upgrading the infrastructure on Corridor VIII, as well as to fulfill the obligations that arise from the 1993 Bilateral Agreement on the construction of the Berovo – Klepalo border crossing,” the Ministry said.

The Ministry assessed that the construction of regional road and railway infrastructure can only be successfully realized if all countries along Corridor VIII continually take joint activities for their development and modernization. 

Photo: MIA Archive