The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia has rejected a request by local authorities in Presheva to open the Miratoc-Llojan border crossing connecting Serbia with the Republic of North Macedonia. The request, submitted on May 19, aimed to ease movement for local residents and promote cross-border cooperation.
Ardita Sinani, Mayor of Presheva, said Serbia’s official response argued that the road passes through Miratoc village and lacks the necessary infrastructure for border control, effectively blocking the project.
“This argument does not hold and is unacceptable. Most border crossings at this level in the region, including those between Serbia and Kosovo, pass through or near populated areas,” Sinani stated.
“A clear example is the ‘Dheu i Bardhë’ crossing, which goes through the villages of Lluçan and Konçul — inhabited areas with daily heavy transport. Its functioning has never been questioned for passing through settlements.”
Sinani emphasized that the issue is not technical but political, citing the official response from North Macedonia’s government, which shows that the obstacle comes solely from Serbia.
“It’s not a technical obstacle but a political problem, showing a lack of institutional will from the Serbian state,” Sinani stressed.
In previous meetings with representatives of the Coordinating Body and the Ministry of Local Administration, the delay was blamed on the Macedonian side. “Now, Serbia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs confirms the opposite: the barriers come from Serbia itself,” Sinani said.
Local institutions, she added, will continue to insist on this legitimate demand, which is crucial for free movement, economic development, and cross-border cooperation.
“This is not just a local request but a fundamental right of our citizens. State institutions must act consistently and honor the documents they have signed,” Sinani declared.
Background:
Before the border between Serbia and North Macedonia was established, the main road connecting Presheva and Kumanovo passed directly through the Albanian villages of Miratoc and Llojan, offering a much shorter route than today. Although the villages are only 1.5 kilometers apart, residents now must travel about 40 kilometers and endure long waits at border checkpoints to cross from one to the other.
