Transport Minister Aleksandar Nikolloski stated that the construction of the Trebenishtë–Qafëthanë section of Corridor 8 is not under threat and that the final route will be defined in cooperation with UNESCO, which has raised concerns because the road passes through protected areas.
According to Nikoloski, UNESCO is expected to give its final opinion at the end of June or the beginning of July.
“We will see what they say at the end of June or early July. We will fight to defend the route and we believe it is good. If our arguments win, we will build along that route. If not, we will build a slightly different route. But the question is not whether it will be built, but which route will be chosen,” he said.
In April this year, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski stated that the government would look for alternative solutions for Corridor 8 if UNESCO did not approve sections passing through protected areas.
The Trebenishtë–Struga–Qafëthanë road is part of an agreement with the “Bechtel & Enka” consortium and is considered a strategic segment of Corridor 8. However, UNESCO has issued recommendations regarding environmental and cultural heritage protection, as the area contains significant archaeological remains.
Meanwhile, Albanian political parties in North Macedonia have raised concerns that there may be political motives behind a possible change of route, arguing that it could affect infrastructure development links with Albania.
