Bridge over the Buna/Abazovic river: 20 million Euro cost, will be paid 50 to 50 between Albania and Montenegro

14:36 ​​27/02/2023

Rama: A project of exceptional value

The bilateral agreement between the Republic of Albania and Montenegro on the construction of the bridge on the Buna River was signed today between the two governments in Podgorica.

In relation to this agreement, the Prime Minister of the country, Edi Rama, and the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Dritan Abazovic, were asked about this project in the joint press conference.

During his speech, the Montenegrin Prime Minister stated that the construction of the bridge costs 20 million Euros, adding that it will be 300 meters long. Abazovic has stated that the financing will be 50 to 50 through the governments of Albania and Montenegro.

Dritan Abacovic: It’s a bit more expensive than we first thought. I think it will cost 20 million Euros, if it is divided in half it is not much. We have the open point and spare tools for this issue. We have already discussed that we will divide them and the payment will be made in several years and there will be no burden for our 2 countries. The bridge will be 300 meters long. I talk a lot about investments, I don’t know that anything can be more effective and cheaper than this. According to the agreement, we will pay 50 to 50. The Albanian side has made the payment. We will open the tender soon. The most important thing is to start. We have passed an important stage.

On the other hand, the Prime Minister of the country Rama has stated that this project has an extraordinary value as it will connect the sides of a border that is only 300 meters as long as the bridge itself.

Edi Rama: It is a project, which has an extraordinary value because it will finally connect the 2 sides of a border that is 300 meters as long as the bridge. The project is ready, the only thing is to draw up a procedure, it is the first time that 2 governments will open an international competition with a joint commission. Then the winner will be determined. We will make the project known tomorrow and it will be a really beautiful and ambitious project. I would like to add something else, for us this bridge is extremely valuable because even with the construction of the road from Shengjin to Velipoja and with this connection, mobility increases and we win in our tourism industry. This bridge does not replace the other bridge when the Blue Corridor will be fully connected. For the coastal area, let’s open a competition. Both our countries have spent energy on the sea coast. Montenegro has become a leading country in this region. It is unjustifiable that we have not put the lake to use, it is 0 used. It is a situation that we want to reverse. We have not been able to do it until now because the main problem is coordination. We do not have the culture of coordination. This is the challenge, and I unwittingly return to the Open Balkans, without mechanisms, there is no Brussels and Washington to save us. /broread