Adriatic highway to boost regional connectivity

Albanian officials see a highway linking Albania and Montenegro as an important corridor that will enhance connectivity in the region, Albanian Daily News reported Friday.

Albania and Montenegro are jointly building the highway, seen as one of the most important regional infrastructure projects.

Krislen Keri, a Transport and Infrastructure Ministry official, said the project would create a high-quality corridor that will boost connectivity between the two countries.

"We are working with Montenegrin counterparts to finalize all agreements for borders and customs to facilitate ongoing projects in line with the commitment that the two countries made at the (Western Balkans) Vienna Summit," Keri said.

The project will also help extend the two countries' links with Croatia, Greece, Italy and Slovenia.

Last August, the European Union backed a list of infrastructure projects that would better connect the Balkan region.

Railway connectivity with its eastern neighbor Macedonia is another priority for Albania, according to Keri.

"We need to develop our railway connectivity with the region. In this regard, we have approved the feasibility study to rehabilitate the Durres- Pogradec-Lin railway line and extend it to the border with Macedonia," Keri said.

Regarding maritime transportation, Albania is setting up a vessel traffic monitoring system.

"This system will increase safety in transport and also save the maritime environment from pollution," Keri said.

Over past months, seawater pollution has been detected along the Albanian shore. Yet without a monitoring system, it is difficult for the Albanian authorities to find out which vessels are to blame. Endi