The head of the EU’s diplomatic delegation in Northern Macedonia, Michalis Rokas and Northern Macedonia Prime Minister Christian Mitskoski today participated in the opening ceremony of the Customs Building and the relevant infrastructure at the Markova Markova area.

These projects, totaling two million euros, are part of the EU for Prespa finance program, which amounts to € 21.5 million, with 84% of funding (18 million euros) coming from the European Union.

Similar construction work is expected to begin next month in the Greek section of the border at the Prespa neck site.

These work is part of the relevant process of reopening the Border -Markova Noga border crossing, which has remained closed since 1967.

EU ambassador to Northern Macedonia, Michalis Rokas, described the foundation of the foundation stone today as an excellent event and the beginning of a new era.

“Today’s day is a historic day for your country. The EU’s vision for the Prespa area is the vision of the citizens on the three sides of the Prespa. The most important thing is to have a vision that will be people focused on humans and also a vision that will be focused on exchange of experiences on the three sides of the border, there will be economic growth, economic viability as well as the preservation of Lake Prespa, which is not only the natural heritage of the European region, but not only the natural heritage.

For his part, Northern Macedonia Prime Minister Christian Mitskoski noted that today is a special day for Prespa, because this border crossing is another step towards connecting the two Prespa, on both sides of the border.

“I think such examples are positive for both countries. In this direction we have to continue to build relationships, to connect, because this is the only way we can get into the frame of larger countries, “said Ch. Mitskoski.

The Laimos-Markova Noga border station is scheduled to reopen in 2028.

The ceremony was also attended by the mayors of Laimos, George Stergiou and the beautiful Municipality of Resen (from the side of Northern Macedonia), Jovan Tosievski.

The agreement on the reopening of this border station was signed in March 2019 by the then Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Sia Anagnostopoulou and the then Foreign Minister of Northern Macedonia, Nikola Dimitrov, as part of the predictions of the Prespa Agreement.

The reopening of the Border-Markova Noga border station will help to facilitate movement between the two countries, the Prespa area and to the protection of Biodiversity of the Prespa basin. Prespa Mayor George Stergiou said that the reopening of the border crossing would also contribute to the development of tourism, as it would allow European tourists who go to Ohrid this summer to be able to visit the wider Prespa area in its Greek section.

Finally, Christian Mitskoski, asked to answer journalistic questions if he has changed his mind on the Prespa Agreement, which he had criticized in the past, especially now that the reconstruction of the border passage, which is one of the benefits of this agreement, is starting.

“I guess you know what kind of person I am, I have never changed my opinion and still have the same place. However, six more years ago I said that this is the reality and if we want to be real politicians, we have to see the reality. Politics is the art of feasible. I am sorry that the previous criminal government (meaning Zoran Zaev) has chosen to humiliate and put Macedonia in a difficult position. As long as I remain in politics, I will struggle to correct all the injustices that have happened in my Macedonia for the last seven years, “the prime minister of Northern Macedonia said.