DPM Simović signs Agreement between Montenegro and Albania in field of water resource management: Mutual concern for common valuable resources

Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy and Financial System and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Milutin Simović and Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania Senida Mesi signed today in Shkodër the Agreement on mutual relations between the two countries in the field of cross-border water resource management.

The Agreement was signed following a joint session of the governments of Montenegro and Albania.

DPM Simović expressed his satisfaction with the opportunity to discuss common goals and aspirations in a partnership atmosphere, in the spirit of preserving and improving mutual cooperation.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Simović, the Agreement in the field of water resource management was a result of the joint and continuous work of the Montenegrin - Albanian Water Management Commission.

By signing this framework agreement, the Water Management Commission will continue with further work and enhanced activities for the sustainable management of the Skadar Lake, Drim, Bojana and Morača, which are the targeted areas of the agreement. These are activities for preserving water quality, flood protection, water regulation and maintenance, more intensive exchange of information and finding funds for financing these activities, Deputy Prime Minister Simović said.

As the Deputy Prime Minister pointed out, the implementation will require the joint action of the two countries, joint infrastructural works on flood protection and unhindered flow of cross-border watercourses, with a special accent on the Bojana River, with the continuous exchange of all necessary information.

Simović stressed the need to use common opportunities from pre-accession funds of the EU and other donors.

Skadar Lake and the Bojana River are recognised by a high level of biodiversity and economically important fish species, whose exploitation provides significant income for the local population. Therefore, common concern, shared responsibility and shared commitment to the preservation of these natural resources are significant for our countries. Therefore, we see the preparation and implementation of the Agreement on the sustainable management of fish resources in the area of Skadar Lake and Bojana as a mutual necessity and obligation for the environment and the fisheries sector of our countries, Simović said.

The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that the work on the preparation and implementation of the agreement will be another confirmation that Montenegro and the Republic of Albania demonstrate true commitment to these issues.

Montenegro, as DPM Simović added, is ready to continue cooperation with Albania on the preparation and signing of the agreement on plant protection, the agreement on veterinary cooperation, and the agreement on cooperation in the field of food safety.

We must jointly contribute to the consistent implementation of the CEFTA agreement and speed up the decision-making on the abolition of already noted non-tariff barriers in order to further increase the trade exchange and for the good of economic entities of our countries, Deputy Prime Minister Milutin Simović said.