The agreement on the border crossings of Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) contributed to the improvement and development of good-neighborly relations between the two countries and the progress of regional cooperation as a whole, it was assessed at the session of the Joint Commission for monitoring the implementation of that act.
As announced by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP), the 12th session of the Mixed Montenegrin-Bosnian-Herzegovinian Commission for Monitoring the Implementation of the Agreement between the Montenegrin Government and the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina on border crossings for international and border traffic was held in the organization of that department, at which the current questions.
After the opening of the first joint border crossing between Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vraćenovići - Deleuša, on the territory of Montenegro, in 2020, activities were intensified to open the remaining three joint border crossings, in accordance with the concluded agreements.
"In this sense, the Directorate for Indirect Taxation of BiH is implementing the Zupci Border Crossing Reconstruction Project, with the aim of creating conditions for the establishment of joint border control at the Zupci-Sitnica border crossing," said the MUP.
It is added that the works will be completed by September 25, when the joint border crossing is expected to open.
"Also, at the end of March, the Directorate for Indirect Taxation of Bosnia and Herzegovina signed a contract for the development of project documentation for the future joint border crossing Klobuk-Ilino Brdo, with the aim of creating conditions for the establishment of joint border control at this border crossing as well," the announcement says.
The Montenegrin MUP, as it is added, is preparing project documentation for the construction of the future joint border crossing Šćepan Polje - Hum.
"Implementation of joint border checks at joint border crossings will contribute to the simplification and acceleration of border procedures and the more effective implementation of measures to combat all forms of cross-border crime," the statement said.
Since August last year, the two states have issued 211 border passes for crossing the state border in the border traffic regime, in order to make it easier for the population living in the area to cross the border more easily at 18 crossing points, in addition to the existing two border crossings.
"Once again, the importance and possibility of the citizens of Pljevaljska Bukovica being able to cross the state border in the border traffic regime was emphasized, and specific activities of the border police were agreed upon in accordance with the concluded Agreement," the statement says.
It is stated that by a special decision of the Mixed Commission, after certain procedures in both countries, a temporary recategorization of the border crossings will be carried out.
The recategorization refers to border traffic Krstac - Krstac, on the road Nikšić - Gacko, in border crossings for international passenger traffic, in the period from June 1 to October 1, during the summer tourist season, in order to more efficiently cross the border.
In order to prepare for the summer tourist season, measures have been determined to harmonize the traffic of passengers and goods and to coordinate the activities of border services of both countries, border police, customs, border veterinary and phytosanitary inspections.
This, as stated, was done in order to simplify border crossing, especially at the most frequent border crossings, taking into account that the priority should be the safety of states and citizens.
"In this sense, regional heads of border services will exchange information on a daily basis, identify problems at border crossings and ensure functionality and faster implementation of border procedures," the statement said.
The local commission did not accept the request of the Municipality of Nikšić, that the Krstac border crossing on the Nikšić - Gacko road, which is open for border traffic, be recategorized as a border crossing for international road passenger traffic throughout the year.
"It was jointly concluded that it is not justified to change the status of this border crossing due to poor road infrastructure on both sides of the border and low traffic outside the summer tourist season," the announcement states.
The Commission did not accept the request of the Municipality of Plužine to open the border crossing on the Plužine - Gacko road.
"It was agreed that the opening of this border crossing is irrational in addition to the five border crossings for international road, goods and passenger traffic and two border crossings for border traffic on the common state border," the statement said.
As it is added, due to poor road infrastructure, there are no necessary conditions for opening a border crossing on that road.
At the session, it was noted that protocols on the transfer of goods subject to veterinary and phytosanitary inspection in the border traffic regime have been agreed and initialed, and their signing is expected to be organized by the ministries of foreign affairs of the two countries.
"It was jointly stated that both the Ministry of Interior and the border services of both countries, by concluding and implementing the agreement, contributed to the improvement and development of good-neighborly relations between Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina and the progress of regional cooperation as a whole," the announcement states.
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