Albanians in Montenegro seek more border crossings with Kosovo, Albania

With the opening of the border crossing at Cakir, local Plav officials think better ties between the two countries would be created, bilateral economic co-operation would be strengthened, Montenegro and Kosovo citizens' travel would be facilitated, but also of numerous tourists, especially during the tourist season. “Communications is one of the basic infrastructure preconditions for the tourist and economic value of a three. Without good roads and great economic assessment, they remain untapped. The Plav municipality, in addition to the good geographic position, with which two states and several Montenegrin municipalities are limited, has inadequate communications links”, the municipality officials stress in the government's letter.

Among other things, it is said that from Plav to Pec are about 70 miles [70 km], while the route through Rozaje via the “Kula”, Peja and Plava are at a distance of about 130 km.

Plava officials stress that for this reason their citizens wait patiently for the opening of the road axis, especially in view of the importance of this communication link to development to further economic-Turkish opportunities on this side, as well as the traditional orientation of residents but other possibilities.

Given that the “connection with Albania is undoubtedly advanced with the construction of the Guci-Verme road axis and the opening of the Gerncar-Verm border crossing, as long as the connection with Kosovo can be advanced with the full functioning of the Murina road axis- Chuckor-Peje, who was rebuilt by the Directorate for Communications” a few years ago, is said among other things in the Plav municipality's request to the Government of Montenegro.

New crossings outside official ones

The circulation of people is the basic need of freedom in every country, while border areas in this regard are unique, because they have had a major past with major political and economic issues where such as these were the most underdeveloped and without any prospects for living. In this regard there is no exception to the Montenegro-Albania border zone, where the consequences are still present, where Albanians are eyewitnesses of past years in the time of monism. But, under new circumstances, efforts must be made to change the existing situation where free flow through new border crossings outside the official one would favour the population on both sides of the border.

It is in this regard that a positive agreement has to be mentioned that was reached in August 2018 between Montenegro and Serbia for opening 21 new border crossings (VKK) outside official ones, because there is a need for population circulation in the border area between the two countries, respecting the need of the local population in the municipalities in the border area for free border crossings, with the aim of developing economic co-operation, education, health, culture, social, sports, etc. In the distance border area of 10km from the border, 131 settlements in Montenegro and 113 are included in Serbia. Such an agreement is in line with the European Community guidelines(EU 1931/06) on cross-border circulation. The population of the border area on both sides of the border has been equipped with access to the crossing, where the country where they can cross the state border is located.

In this case, such crossings must be mentioned have occurred between the two world wars between the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and Albania, enabling citizens of the border area to free free free flow. Data from Shkodra Lake to Buna's mouth has been in operation eight Such VKK testifies to the democracy of time, which after World War II for political-ideological causes such a right was denied, which was fatal for Albanians on both sides of the border with major consequences present down to our day.

Model for other countries in the region as well

Although no media publicity was given to the Montenegrin-Serbian agreement as such, I can serve as a model for other countries in the region, and even one would need to be reached even between Montenegro, Kosovo and Albania. Right, given the needs of the citizens of the border area where Albanians live on both sides of the border, as the most emergency at this moment are the spread of the new VKK outside official ones in:

1. Vrancea-Plava neck, located near Cherem village of the Tropoja district. After improving the road infrastructure, this crossing will enable the connection of all areas of Tropoja and Gjakova Maltia with Plav and Gucia.

2. Grabom Cemre of Triesh, although the road to the Albanian part is finished and we have continuous communication at the Guci delegation. -Tamara-Gorsor has not been finished with the part in Montenegro, connecting Grambom and Podgorica, where, according to the information we have this year, we will begin building this road as well as the VKK in Graboom that will be in the function of the citizens of Kelmend and Malta, as well as others who will frequent this province.

3. Zogaj-Hutaj (Skje) that would favour Kraja province for its connection to the town of Shkodra, which was suspended in 1948 Although the joint meeting between the Government of Albania and Montenegro was held in Shkodra on July 1, 2018, thanks to signed agreements was the one in connection with the opening of this V The KK, but although it is about building a 1.2km distance route through information we have so far, nothing has been done in this direction.

That would be the bridge of Shkodra Lake on its southeast side, while Kraja would be 12km from Shkodra, being part of the city's gravitational zone.

4. Sherkolo-Pulaj, would be the only waterway across the Buna River, between two countries that have long been presented in opinion as continuing St. Gen-Velipoj Street- Add-up. In particular during the summer, it would be a special tourist attraction for the entire region and wider, until the bridge on Buna is built, which is in Albania's Government's capital investment projects.

The opening of such an informal but other VKK that was no longer mentioned would prove co-operation between the two countries and the practical presentation of good neighbourly policy in favour of Europrian integration, which is in favour of the population of border areas as elsewhere in countries with consolidated democracies.

Plav-Decan Road Must Be Speeded

As a logical continuation of the Shkodra-Plava road, or Podgorica-Plava, is the way towards Kosovo. If from Plava in Kosovo's direction is the traditional route through Chuckorri, she has had a six-month limited treatment, because circulation was possible only during the summer, because winter this road was blocked.

So the only road line for Kosovo from the province of Plav-Gucia is only from Roshaja to Peja or Mitrovica. But, after Kosovo's liberation, the idea of road construction is presented in the direction of Decani-Plava. Eventually this 35km-long road has begun to build on September 25, 2014. Within the Decani municipality from this length of the road are 20km, while the remaining 15km is within the Plav municipality. Although this road is designed to be built in three phases and the outcome is designed to be completed in 2017, the work has long been partially interrupted because the obstacle represents the Decani Orthodox Monastery, without any convincing reasoning of opinion.

I think such an action is more political backlash, to enable the realisation of such an infrastructure project that is in favour of the communication of Decani and Plav in terms of overall economic development and also makes the natural union of Albanian countries as never before, being a multidimensional artery, especially for the province of Plava and Guita.

If there aren't other subjective obstacles, and concrete engagement in the Plav municipality, because they haven't worked in that direction yet, I think by the end of 2020 this road should be completed.

From Roshaia to Pec in 18 minutes

Although the idea of Roshai's connection to Peja through the tunnel has already existed, concrete information in this regard is available in May 2008. It was the meeting of representatives of the Government of Montenegro and Kosovo who warned such an opportunity that would favour contemporary road ties between the two cities. Such financing could be realised by the budget of relevant states, but also by European funds.

At the meeting, it has been suggested that procedure should be initiated on collecting documentation for drafting the location study where the technical elements of the project will be defined. The implementation of such a project would be beneficial for Montenegro, and particularly for the citizens of Roshay and Pec.

The existing Roshaille road - The road is 46.9km long, while according to technical estimates, if the tunnel opened at 7.25km long, this road would be 23.5km long, where 18 minutes would be quickly reached in Pec.

Such circulation would make Roshaj an integral part of Pec's gravitational zone not only commercially, restoring past times. The concrete engagement of the two countries' governments in implementing such a project would be in favour of integrating the border area, eliminating speculation that we are only dealing with random statements, as in election campaigns/ Dr. Neil Draga, Malta.