UNMIK/PR/183
Yesterday in Skopje, Mr. Joly Dixon, UNMIK's Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Mr. Kadievski, the Minister of Urban Planning and Construction of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, signed an Agreement on a joint programme of enhanced cross-border cooperation. Witnessing the signing was European Commissioner for External Affairs, the Rt. Hon. Christopher Patten.
FYROM and UNMIK have agreed on a comprehensive programme of cooperation on cross-border economic issues, initially aimed at improving the entire Skopje-Pristina corridor. This is the result of efforts on both sides to facilitate crossing times at the border, where delays of several days occurred following the refugee crisis of spring 1999 and the humanitarian relief operation to Kosovo the following summer and fall..
Commissioner Patten said at the ceremony: "This cross-border cooperation is an excellent example of the Stability Pact in action. The Pact encourages members in the South East Europe region to work together to improve regional integration and to lay the foundations for economic growth and political stability.
The EU will support this effort with 5 million Euros towards improvements at the Blace/Hani I Elizit border crossing. In addition, the EU has agreed to fund through the European Agency for Reconstruction a number of projects, including renovation of the Customs house, a new temporary customs clearance building, and improving the truck holding area. Other donors within the Stability Pact framework have said they will participate, including Germany, the Netherlands and US, Mr. Patten said.
The programme will start immediately with a series of measures to improve and modernize border infrastructures and facilities on both sides, including publishing of vehicle crossing times in both direction and to make better use of infrastructures including Eurotrade and a similar facility in Kosovo.
The agreement includes a shared commitment to examine and simplify legislative and administrative procedures on both side of the border to reduce costs and approach harmonization with EU standards. High-level political oversight will be ensured through regular meetings and an evolution to further areas of cooperation. Other Customs Administrations and related organizations will be invited to join the process.