Citizens of Albania and Kosovo will pass through the Morina border point with expedited procedures during 9 months of the year and on weekends and holidays. The revised protocol was signed in Tirana by the Minister of Interior Taulant Balla and the Minister of Interior of Kosovo, Xhelal Sveçla.
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| Xhelal Sveçla and Taulant balla shaking hands after agreement signing |
According to the agreement, procedures for crossing and border verification at the Morina-Kukës common point will be facilitated for the entire period from May 1st to September 30th and from November 1st to February 28th, a total of 9 months per year, as opposed to the current protocol which provided for 4 months, specifically from June 1st to September 30th. During this period of facilitated movement, there will be no passport or ID checks for citizens of both countries.
"I am very happy to be here today in this historic place, together with my friend, the Minister of Interior of Kosovo, Mr. Sveçla, to jointly write another page in this new chapter of the excellent relations between our two states.
Driven by the common will and commitment between the Governments of our two countries and between the two Prime Ministers to continue the policies to facilitate the movement of citizens at the Border Crossing Points between Albania and Kosovo towards the full easing of controls in accordance with the implementation of the agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kosovo and the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania for the establishment of common border crossing points between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Albania for the performance of joint border control actions, signed on December 29, 2018, today we are here to sign a new amending protocol to this existing protocol, for the implementation of joint border control at the Morina Kukës border crossing point signed on June 20, 2022.
Through the signing of this new protocol, we will facilitate the crossing and border verification procedures at the common Morina - Kukës crossing point for the entire period from May 1st to September 30th and from November 1st to February 28th, a total of 9 months per year, as opposed to the current protocol which provided for only 4 months, specifically from June 1st to September 30th. During this period of facilitated movement, there will be no passport or ID checks for citizens, and I emphasize this for the citizens of both our countries," said Balla.
Meanwhile, Kosovo's Minister of Interior, Xhelal Sveçla, stated that efforts are being made for citizens to not feel any restrictions at border points.
"We are continuously deepening cooperation, determined to serve our citizens better and to be as efficient as possible in combating crime in our countries. We will move forward with further agreements so that our citizens never feel any restrictions, nor do they know where they actually are, but that they are welcome in Kosovo or Albania, in the summer or winter season. With a zero bureaucracy approach, we aim for cooperation to be at the highest levels. Our Police will also cooperate as the departments within the police cooperate," said Sveçla.