Page 13 - Gazeta AFP

E martë, 13 shkurt 2018
Tuesday, 13 february 2018
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13
ENGLISH EDITION
THE ROADS OF THE BALKANS
countries. But facts show that we still don't wants to avoid Thessaloniki at any cost.
know when we will be able to connect to the Nevertheless, the creation of a full corridor
European transport network. The lack of from Durres to the Bulgarian coast is easier
coherence and lack of regional planning can said than done. Although the Albanian rail-
be noticed in the decisions that have re- way is only two kilometers away from the
cently been made by authorities in all three Macedonian border, none of its parts is elec-
countries. Each country has made its own
trified. Meanwhile, on the Macedonian side
plans for infrastructural development and there are 50 km of railway lacking up to
promise to their citizens that this is how Kercova, while Skopje-Sofia line needs an-
communication with the world and the neigh- other 164 km yet to be completed. Never-
bors will be facilitated, but the calculations theless, one thing is certain: the highway
that have been made don't lead us to such alongside Shkumbin river will end up in
result. Anyhow, as citizen of Albania and as Skopje.
a taxpayer of the public works that my state As if this was not enough, the Albanian
undertakes, my main concern relates to the government has decided to offer an extra
roads and highways which will suck billions opportunity to our eastern neighbor. Based
By PLATOR NESTURI of euros from the budget and will not go any on calculations made by our experts, the
further. project for the Road of Arber would reduce
This article has been written for Alba- The "titanic efforts" made by a small the distance between Tirana and Skopje by
nian Free Press newspaper country such as ours, who wants to build 100 km. With three major highways bound
a modern road infrastructure, may not lead for Macedonia, connections with Skopje are
he map of the main routes that will to the modern world. So, the northern high- proving to be very expensive. But, is it worth
connect the Balkan countries are way known as the Shkoder highway which it spending all this money to facilitate con-
turning into a real mystery. And stretches up to the border with Montenegro, nections with Macedonia and does the eco-
Tthis sort of mystery is more notice- may not go any further. Montenegro doesn't nomic development of the country depend
have any projects to extend this route in its
on exclusive roads with Skopje? It would be
able in three of the Balkan countries where
the Albanian population is concentrated: Al- territory. If it did, then this highway would a paradox to think that this is the only solu-
bania, Kosovo and Macedonia. be connected to the Danubian highway, tion and it's also strange to spend most of
The separation of Kosovo from Serbia and thus providing connections with Central Eu- the funds for projects which head to only one
the developments of the recent years in ropean countries. Another highway in cen- direction. Albania is not that rich and cannot
Macedonia, where, after the ethnic conflict tral Albania, which extends alongside afford such luxury. What's more, the coun-
broke out, the Ohrid agreement entitled Al- Shkumbin River and on Via Egnatia route try still has serious problems in its national
banians to use their language and flag, has and which was supposed to be part of Cor- transport network. The south of Albania
encouraged Tirana's authorities, in coopera- ridor 8, could go further than Qafe Thana. seems to have remained immune to short-
tion with authorities in the other two neigh- While presenting the program of the new ages of modern links to Tirana and other parts
boring countries, to concentrate the big Macedonian government, the Prime Minis- of the country. Construction works in the
infrastructural projects in the northeast and ter of this country declared that one of the southern highway have stopped for four years.
east. Without any doubt, patriotism has major objectives of his term in office is to While there are plenty of routes bound for
played a major role on this, enabling Alba- build Corridor 8 which would link the east- Skopje, shortages of routes in the south of
nian speaking areas to be connected with ern part to the western part of the Balkans. the country will lead to contrasts between
each-other. The highway linking Durres to In this aspect, he pledged that the ancient the north and the south of Albania. Let us
Morina which heads to Kosovo, has been route with Albania and Bulgaria will be com- not forget that besides the three highways
pleted with all elements of modern infra-
that will be bound for Skopje, there is an-
named the "patriotic highway". Meanwhile,
in the Albanian media, analysts and inde- structure, meaning that the aim is not only other project which is expected to connect
pendent economists have stressed the idea to build road infrastructure, but also railway Kukes to Pogradec and this would complete
for the creation of a joint pan-Albanian eco- infrastructure. Skopje's efforts not to depend the network for the facilitation of connections
nomic space. Despite this patriotic desire, on Greece and its ports, will have a posi- and development of northern areas. In the
the problems which relate to Albania's eco- tive effect on the creation of a joint network, meantime, the south needs to wait, not only
nomic perspective mainly depend on the cre- which is in Albania's best interests. What's for new routes within the south, but also for
ation of axes that would connect the coun- more, Durres and Vlora are seen as the the main route that links them to the country's
try with European powerful and industrialized closest ports for Skopje, who wants to capital.
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Albanian Free Press' editorial policy