Prizren-Dragash, 30 October, 2024
Today, the construction of the Kërstec-Pakishte-Zapod road was inaugurated, with a length of 6.3 kilometers and an investment of 2.6 million euros, which connects these villages with Prizren and Dragash.
On the occasion of the inauguration, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, the Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, Liburn Aliu and the Deputy Minister, Hysen Durmishi, together with the Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to the Republic of Kosovo, Petrit Malaj, the Ambassador of Kosovo in Albania, Skender Durmishi, the Mayor of Kukës, Albert Bislim Halilaj, the deputy of the Parliament of Albania, Pandeli Majko, at the same time the former prime minister of Albania and the former ambassador of Albania in Kosovo, Qemal Minxhozi.
Prime Minister Kurti emphasized that a road has been laid which is a joint achievement of the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Albania, so that we can move as freely as possible and help the residents of these remote areas in particular.
“It is an extraordinary benefit for the free movement, for the economic and cultural development of these areas that have given a lot to both Kosovo and Albania, the Albanian nation in all eras of our progress”, said the prime minister.
According to him, it was the lack of infrastructure that forced the inhabitants of these deep areas to migrate, therefore with such infrastructure projects, as the Prime Minister said, the latter will increasingly be able to return to their hometown more often , and why not forever.
“We have paved a road which is both in Kosovo and in Albania in order to move as freely as possible and to help in particular the inhabitants of these deep areas, whose lack of infrastructure in the past has forced them to migrate . We hope that with these infrastructural projects more and more people will be able to return to their hometown more often, and why not forever”, said the Prime Minister on the occasion of the inauguration.
Prime Minister Kurti thanked not only Minister Aliu and Deputy Minister Durmishi for their work and dedication for this achievement, but also for the current ambassador of the Republic of Albania in Kosovo, Petrit Malaj, and the former ambassador of the Republic of Albania in Kosovo, Qemal Minxhozi. .
This road is one of the three road projects part of the protocol signed between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Albania in September 2023. The Blinishte – Dobrunë road has been built, while the Gorozhup – Pogaj road is under construction.
The complete pronunciation of Prime Minister Kurti:
We are very glad and happy that we inaugurated this road which connects the villages of Pakishte and Zapod, with Prizren and Dragash.
It is an extraordinary benefit for free movement, for the economic and cultural development of these areas that have given a lot to both Kosovo and Albania, the Albanian nation in all eras of our progress.
Therefore, on this occasion we are returning a small part of the great debt we owe to the residents of this area.
The total length of the road is 6 kilometers and 340 meters, it cost a little less than 2 million and 600 thousand euros and is part of the protocol with two other projects, including the Blinisht – Dobrunë one that has also been completed, as well as the other segment Gorozhup – Pogaj that is under construction.
I thank the minister, the deputy minister, Liburn Ali and Hysen Durmishi, but also the two ambassadors of the Republic of Albania, one after the other, who have committed themselves and worked for this great day. It is Petrit Malaj, the current ambassador, and Qemal Minxhozi, his predecessor, who have joined us today in this ceremony, and Pandeli Majko and Namik Dokle are also here.
We have paved a road that is both in Kosovo and in Albania, in order to move as freely as possible and to help in particular the inhabitants of these deep areas, whose lack of infrastructure in the past has forced them to migrate . We hope that with these infrastructure projects more and more people will be able to return to their homeland more often, if not forever.
The protocol was made in September of last year, the contract in mid-December of last year, but due to the difficult weather the works could not start until March and here we are today after 7 and a half months inaugurating this road, this joint achievement for the benefit of both our countries and the residents of these areas, whom I congratulate and I am thankful.
Last modified: November 1, 2024