Kosovo and North Macedonia pledge to unconditionally open respective borders

Artan Grubi and Besnik Tahiri

 North Macedonia and Kosovo should remove coronavirus tests, known as PCRs, as soon as possible and allow the free movement of people and goods, said in Skopje on Wednesday the two countries' deputy prime ministers, Artan Grubi and Besnik Tahiri.

"Our borders should be liberalized and here we can take as an example the border between Kosovo and Albania, which is open and there are extraordinary movements between the two countries, especially during the tourist season, and the transmission of COVID-19 disease between the two countries has been minimal. This example should serve us to liberalize the borders not only with our neighbor Kosovo but also with our neighbors around", said the Deputy Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Artan Grubi, after meeting with his Kosovo counterpart, Besnik Tahiri.

"For us it is illogical to have a system of bilateral testing, while the movement with Albania is open, the movement between the two countries has been very large. "We should look at all the possibilities of facilitation with North Macedonia as well - normally maintaining public health, preserving each other - and facilitate the movement of citizens", said Tahiri.

During this week, it was announced that a video conference would be held between the Ministers of Health of the countries of the Western Balkans region, for the approval of a protocol to facilitate the movement between their countries.

On Monday, the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce of North Macedonia called on the governments of both countries to remove obstacles to the free movement of people and goods, respectively PCR tests.

According to them, the closure of the borders has caused great damage to businesses of both countries.

"Considering the connection and land proximity of Kosovo with North Macedonia, the mandatory negative PCR test, set for entry in both countries, is an additional obstacle, both for individuals and businesses, because, first, the economy is hit, which suffers great losses from this decision", it was said in the communiqué of the two chambers of commerce.

At the meeting of the two Deputy Prime Ministers in Skopje, they also talked about the Skopje-Pristina highway, respectively the stagnation of works in the part of North Macedonia.

"The Skopje-Blace segment is very important for us. We have constructed our part. "I think that this segment will connect our two countries, Kosovo and North Macedonia, even stronger, strengthening economic cooperation and the movement of people," said Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Tahiri.