Skopje, 17 October 2024 (MIA) -- Corridor VIII is just as important to us as Corridor X is, because my dream as PM is for Macedonia to be a crossroads in rail, road, and energy, and without Corridor VIII there is no rail. The real question is how far along the project for Corridor VIII is in Albania, is there a project at all, did the government start constructions, is it a priority, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski on Thursday.

"We proved our commitment with Section 1 by finishing the Kumanovo-Beljakovce highway sections, while Section 2- the Beljakovce-Kriva Palanka highway section is still under construction, but we have no intentions to waste funds for Section 3 from Kriva Palanka to the border with Bulgaria since we did not see serious commitment and project from the Bulgarian side and will definitely redirect funds to other priority projects," Mickoski told journalists during today's visit to vilalge Radiovce near Tetovo.

Yesterday's meeting in Brussels between the Macedonian and Bulgarian delegation determined that half of the tunnel on the Bulgarian side was missing, so the project would be completed in 2026 at the earliest, followed by another project for the remaining motorway section to join the existing railway on Corridor VIII that is to connect Burgas and Durres.

"I will not waste half a billion euros of taxpayer money to tell the contractor what companies are manufacturers, who will carry the concrete, sand, or tools for these 24 km. You will meet many companies currently working in Kriva Palanka, carrying this type of materials for Sections 1 and 2. The public will know soon and judge who gave such instructions. But we will not spend half a billion euros of your money until the Bulgarian side finishes the project; we will not construct a railway that leads to a dead end in a half-tunnel," Mickoski stressed.

He said it was crazy that it took three hours to get from Tetovo to Ohrid and announced that at the start of the next tourist season the Arbinovo-Ohrid section on the Kichevo-Ohrid motorway would be put into use.

"The previous government did nothing in seven years to finish the Kichevo-Ohrid motorway, and this government will open the first Arabinovo-Ohrid section before the start of the tourist season next year, except the section near the village Botun, due to the dangerous landslides. I expect the rest of the motorway from Arabinovo to Kichevo to be completed at the end of 2026. There are 16 critical spots, 10 of which will be solved with the help from the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Skopje. The contractor company will solve the other six, either through the terrace or with stakes in order to stabilize the ground and finally finish the motorway," Mickoski said.

According to him, DUI officials from the previous government did nothing for two years, and apart from paying a EUR 350 million advance payment, did not make any progress on Corridor VIII or Corridor Xd.

"What has this government done? It is completing the expressway from Chatal to Dlabochica and from Dlabochica to Kriva Palanka, as part of Corridor VIII that remained untouched until we took over on July 24. This was of no interest to DUI who handed it over to SDSM. We solved all the property and legal documentation that was left untouched and started field work on part of Corridor Xd between Prilep and Bitola, and will soon begin construction work on the Gostivar-Bukojchani section, i.e. laying foundations for the first bridge that should connect Gostivar and Bukojchani. This is how the government does its job,” Mickoski pointed out. ssh/mr