Prime Minister Edi Rama and his Macedonian counterpart Dimitar Kovacevski are also present at the border point in Qafë Thane, where the new border program "One stop - One control" between Albania and North Macedonia comes into effect today.
Prime Minister Rama says that this is an important moment as it facilitates the passage of citizens at this border point and opens a further path for commercial and tourism developments.
Rama hopes that both the Ministries of the Interior will go to another level in this peak period of the season to do random checks with cars registered in the Republic of Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia to ease traffic.
"Today is an important moment for all those who pass through this border point, whether individuals or companies that trade between the two countries. It is an important moment because we finally ease their transition to this point and give a further impetus not only to commercial exchanges, but also to the development of our relations as a whole without forgetting the development of tourism. Albania is experiencing an extraordinary impact of transforming its image, and like no other year, tourists and the number of large investors interested in investing in tourism in Albania together with Albanians in the diaspora, is really very encouraging, but of course that the further development and desired growth of the tourism industry, as well as other production sectors, require a complex approach,
There are many obstacles that come from the inertia of the past and from the bias towards liberalism of the movement. In fact, the liberalization of movement brings more transparency and brings less risk for bad practices in the treatment of citizens and definitely brings more responsibility for all law enforcement agencies at border points. I want to hope that both Ministries of the Interior will go to another level in this peak period of the season to make the crossing without control or more precisely with random control with cars registered to the Republic of Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia so that traffic is eased. This is an important step, but the final goal is the unification of customs that will come with the full integration of Albania and RMV in the EU, but we do not have to wait for the EU to advance this idea.
Prime Minister Rama also spoke about the projects that connect the countries of the region.
"Corridor 8, a very old dream whose day has come to be realized and on both sides of the border work is being done to open Corridor 8. We have made a lot of effort to reawaken this project as part of a former past -Egnatia street and as part of the European infrastructure network. This gives us another positive energy and another source of support from the EU. We are also waiting for the project that connects Buna through the new bridge with Balldren, and thus we will have a corridor of European standards that will connect the north with the south of Albania and the torture of those who come from far away and have to arrive in Tirana through a path that has become excruciating. The best is all ahead for Albania and RMV.