29.10.2022
The Bulgarian Government actively works to incorporate Corridor 8 into Europe’s priority transport network. The route Sofia-Skopje-Tirana-Durrës should be defined as part of the Western Balkans European Corridor. The statement was made by Prime Minister Galab Donev at the launch ceremony for the eastern part of Railway Corridor 8, the section Kumanovo-Beljakovce-Kriva Palanka.
The Prime Minister expressed his confidence that the construction of the corridor is a priority for Bulgaria and for all countries via which the corridor will go which would be an important communication channel and a key link between citizens and businesses from Bulgaria, the Republic of North Macedonia and Albania.
Prime Minister Galab Donev noted that the railway project, which is one of the many dimensions of Corridor 8, could have a high added value for the development of the entire region. Moreover, in the Prime Minister’s understanding, the speedier progress of the construction of Corridor 8 that connects three NATO allies is a matter of national and collective security. The Prime Minister underscored that the consequences of the war in Ukraine have exposed again one of the most vulnerable points of our region, namely, the underdeveloped and even nonexistent infrastructure. Galab Donev recalled that in default of a railway and energy infrastructure to connect our countries, they are compelled to seek alternative supply routes that run via third countries and this further increases the price and prolongs the delivery times of the resources we all need.
“With a potential energy and food crisis looming ahead it is vitally important to ensure direct supply routes,” Prime Minister Galab Donev said firmly. In this context, he emphasized the upcoming conclusion of an Interconnection Agreement between the gas transmission operators of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia, the interconnection point being Kyustendil-Zidilovo. In the Bulgarian Prime Minister’s understanding, this would ensure the diversification and increase of the security of natural gas supplied to the Republic of North Macedonia and would help promote our cooperation in the energy sector.
In his statement, Prime Minister Galab Donev drew attention to the amount of trade between Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia as for the first time in our bilateral relations it is expected to reach nearly 1 billion euro at the end of the year. “Imagine what the result would have been with a developed infrastructure in place between Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia”, the Prime Minister noted and added that similar positive prospects would be created for Albania too with better connectivity.
Further, Prime Minister Galab Donev pointed out that today’s event at Kumanovo is an example that both countries should follow in the future. As he said, it is important to meet the expectations of the businesses and citizens for better transportation by the implementation of strategic projects in all dimensions of Corridor 8, an essential part of which is the Sofia-Skopje railway.
To a question from a journalist from the Republic of North Macedonia, Prime Minister Galab Donev called to find the intersecting points between the people on both sides of the border regardless of the fact that sometimes politicians distort the agenda of the societies in Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia. “Political confrontation and controversies must be put an end to,” Galab Donev said and pointed out that the erection of walls that impede people-to-people contacts, is not on the citizens’ agenda. On the incorporation of the Bulgarians into the Constitution of the Republic of North Macedonia, Prime Minister Galab Donev recalled that it is a commitment made not just to Bulgaria but also to all EU member states. Bulgaria’s Prime Minister noted that the EU membership is a long and tortuous process but the result is the better life for the citizens of the country that becomes a member of the European family.
To a question from a Bulgarian media member about the upcoming opening of a club in Blagoevgrad, Prime Minister Galab Donev said that the organization implicated is not registered under the Bulgarian law and sends dubious messages. The Prime Minister pointed out that the right to free association is respected in Bulgaria while he added that the club would be watched to make sure that the ideas it advocates are not in contravention to the laws in Bulgaria. Prime Minister Galab Donev was firm that the government institutions can guarantee real cultural cooperation.
As part of his visit to the Republic of North Macedonia, Prime Minister Galab Donev held a bilateral meeting with his counterpart Dimitar Kovachevski at which issues of mutual interest were discussed.
