Government of the Republic of Montenegro

08/03/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/03/2021 15:16

PMs Krivokapić and Rama open a joint border crossing between Montenegro and Albania

Published on: Aug 3, 2021 •1:00 PM Author: Office of the Prime Minister

Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić and Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania Edi Rama opened a joint border crossing, Zatrijebačka Cijevna - Grabon between Montenegro and the Republic of Albania in the presence of Hermann Spitz, Charge d'Affaires of the EU Delegation to Montenegro.

The border crossing was built in 2017 with the support of the European Union within the IPA cross-border cooperation programme Montenegro - Republic of Albania aimed at connecting Podgorica and Gusinje through the territory of the Republic of Albania. The construction works cost about 720,000 euros, of which the European Union provided almost half a million euros.

The opening of the joint border crossing with the Republic of Albania is aimed at the comprehensive valorisation of tourist and economic resources of both countries. By joint implementation of border procedures by the police and customs of Montenegro and the Republic of Albania, the crossing of the state border will be simplified and accelerated by the principle of one stop, resources will be used more rationally, transport costs will be reduced in the spirit of CONNECTA Transport Community Project implementation, cooperation between border services will be improved, while all forms of cross-border crime will be more effectively prevented and detected.

Montenegro now has three joint border crossings, two with the Republic of Albania and one with Bosnia and Herzegovina, namely: Sukobin - Murićani, opened in 2009 and Vraćenovići-Deleuša, opened in 2020.

The Government owes special gratitude to the European Union for its assistance and support in the construction of border infrastructure, achieving partnership, mutual trust and joint responsibility for border security, as a condition of internal security and part of the overall security system of the country.

The ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Dritan Abazović, Minister of the Interior Sergej Sekulović, Minister of Foreign Affairs Đorđe Radulović, Acting Director of the Police Directorate Zoran Brđanin, Acting Director of the Revenue and Customs Administration Aleksandar Damjanović, Minister of the Interior of Albania Bledi Çuçi, Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to Montenegro Ridi Kurtezi, Albanian State Police General Director Ardi Veliu, and General Director of Customs Genti Gazheli.