Citizens will fly with Kosovo passports on Kosovo airline- Serbia

Infrastructure Minister Arban Abashi has said of Kosovo Press, that talks have intensified with one of the most serious aviokopanies “Lufthansa”, where the first draft agreement has been reached.

The minister, calling this strategic agreement, says that at the end of pledges that have been reached at the White House for creating a free zone for the movement of people, however by each airport including the one from Belgrade, in the future travel with Kosovo passports.

There will also be specific lines with national inerts and this is within this agreement because a company of “Lufants” has expressed interest in managing this line. So, we're working on a more comprehensive deal with this company, then let's see... (75022) Still, with a passport. There are initiatives to travel across the region only with IDs or even remove all barriers and barriers that exist across any borders, because we have barriers that prevent free movement, especially with Serbia. Therefore, at the framework of the agreement and commitments that have been reached in Washington, we also have the pledge to create a free zone for the movement of people, but still from each airport, including Belgrade in the future, travel with Kosovo passports, which means they will recognise (Kosovo state”, says Abrashi.

Following the agreement signed in Washington by Kosovo and Serbia on 4 September, days ago, letters of interest have been signed, to help finance the construction of the “Peace Agreement <x), which is one of the points of the economic agreement signed at the White House.

Minister Abrashi has welcomed this agreement and voiced confidence that the Bessi-Merdare Peace Highway will start building soon, which will have a cost of 250m euros.

One of the main projects that has been mentioned many years will now find support for realisation, which is the remaining highway from Besia to Merdare. We're talking about a segment that has about 27 kilometers, the cost is about 250m euros, according to the feasibility study. So, given the seriousness of the American side this week, I have received the first letter of interest from the DFC Corporation and from the US export bank expressing interest in funding. I think we're too close to starting the work. Next week, DFC officials will be coming to Pristina where we will meet with them, and we will also negotiate financial agreement”, he points out.

For the Pristina-Nish railway, Abrashi says there is no exception to the possibility of changing the transfer.

“Curved is more complicated anyway we've introduced this to the United States, it's part of the commitments and the agreement that has now been reached. For the railway, there is an older feasibility, it is a feasibility that is being worked on, it has its specifics, because the current channel passes through Pristina and Kolovic. It is a tunnel that seeks rehabilitation, and that rehabilitation costs a great deal. I believe that after the arrival of experts from the United States, we will see once more whether this is the proper transmission, or the transfer to the Pristina exit is altered. I believe we will also realise this project in the record”, Abrashi points out.

Minister Abrashi has also talked about the railway project with Albania, which is a strategic project to exit to Adriatic.

“Under the Kosovo Connection Agreement through railway with Albania represents a node and a very strategic project for the country. Kosovo is unfortunately now outside major railway and trans-European roads. With the highway for Merdare, which connects the trans-European corridor and this railway aimed at building the following years with the Adriatic port, Kosovo becomes a powerful hub of key ties for the Balkans and for Central Europe. Therefore, we hope that the feasibility we've agreed to will also succeed so that this project can be realised”, he declares.

Minister Abrashi has said that other infrastructure projects have been discussed in Washington, but also other projects generating new jobs in Kosovo.

The Brezovica issue had also opened up in Washington. Until September 4th in Washington, the highway project from Lipjan to <x0-Qaffe of Dula” has also been introduced.

The minister of Infrastructure has said that this government is thus aiming for Kosovo to become the strategic hub of railways, highways and gas pipelines that have helped the country's economy in the next four five years.

We remember that on 4 September, Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti and Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, have signed 16 points of agreement for economic normalisation at the White House, in the presence of President Donald Trump.