Serbia Rejects Opening of Miratoc–Llojan Border Crossing, Mayor Sinani Responds

Presheva, August 3, 2025 — The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia has officially rejected a request submitted by local authorities in Presheva to open the Miratoc–Llojan border crossing with North Macedonia. The request, submitted on May 19, aimed to establish a new point of cross-border movement to enhance local connectivity and cooperation.

In a statement, Presheva Mayor Ardita Sinani criticized Serbia’s response, describing it as unfounded and unacceptable. According to the official justification, the Serbian authorities claimed that the road to the border crosses through the village of Miratoc and lacks the necessary infrastructure for border control operations.

“This reasoning does not stand,” Sinani said. “Many border crossings of this type in the region, including those between Serbia and Kosovo, pass through or near populated areas. The most illustrative case is the ‘Dheu i Bardhë’ crossing, whose route goes through the villages of Lluçan and Konçul, areas with daily traffic of heavy transport vehicles — and it has never been questioned because of that.”

Mayor Sinani stressed that the obstacle is not technical, but political.

“We are not facing a lack of infrastructure but rather a lack of institutional will from the Serbian state,” she stated.

She also dismissed previous claims by Serbian institutions suggesting that the delay came from the North Macedonian side. The recent rejection from Serbia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, she argued, contradicts those claims and clearly shows the obstruction originates in Belgrade.

Sinani reaffirmed the municipality’s commitment to pursuing the issue.

“As a local institution, we will continue to insist and work diligently to realize this legitimate and rightful demand of our citizens. The opening of the Miratoc–Llojan crossing is essential for freedom of movement, economic development, and cross-border cooperation,” she concluded.