Skopje, 17 August 2023 (MIA) - The construction of any regional interstate road can be an object of discussion among anyone, but an object of realization falls on the governments, said Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski on Thursday adding that young people in North Macedonia want to have corridors and roads with all our neighbors.

The Tetovo-Prizren road, he said, is an idea, which came to be long before Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti visited Tetovo and Chair, which he considered to have been misused for political gains between the two mayors who want to establish themselves on the political scene.

"That road can be an object of discussion between neighbors, representatives of political parties, friends, but the object of realization falls on the governments. It is not important whether or not the Deputy PM discussed it with any party. He can do that with anyone. The Governments signed a memorandum which states that in the future they have to discuss the construction of a road that will connect Prizren and Tetovo, which will also connect to Corridor VIII," Kovachevski said in response to a question during Thursday's visit to Data Masters company in Skopje.

He emphasized that as long as highways or regional roads are being built, the region will continue to develop and that Western Balkan countries have to cooperate to create a region that will be integrated into EU.

"The Balkan is not the same as it was during the 90s where communication between countries did not exist. During the communist era, only Corridor X was being used, and Corridor VIII did not exist on the map of former Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Albania and Italy, because the countries were not in good terms. Which is why it doesn't surprise me to see 80-year-old politicians in our country and neighboring countries still stick to this concept - that corridors should not be built and countries should fight, because that is how they built their careers," the PM added.

He stressed that in North Macedonia's Parliament there is an MP who was a member of Yugoslavia's State Security Service, adding that that MP would want to see North Macedonia become a part of EU.

"He has built his career on the belief that the county should not become a part of EU and that it should not be on good terms with its neighbors. He cannot be trusted to lead the country into the EU. North Macedonia can enter EU with new young politicians who know what newer generations want. Our young people want to work in the EU for higher standards, better social security, and better governance of democracy. They want the corridors and roads," Kovachevski states. ssh/sk/

Photo: MIA