Open Balkans initiative is a necessary process that is in no any way competition to the Berlin Process, said the US Ambassador to Serbia Christopher Hill during a conversation with the Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure of Serbia, Goran Vesić.
“I believe Open Balkan is a great idea, and I don’t see anything wrong with supporting that initiative,” ambassador Hill said.
According to him, Open Balkans is the way to go, and more similar initiatives are needed.
“Those who say that the Open Balkans is not inclusive – they are wrong. It is an absolutely inclusive initiative. You can make huge progress,” said Hill.
Vesić and Hill also discussed the construction of the Moravian Corridor, carried out by the American company Bechtel. The minister pointed out that the works are progressing well and that the work will be completed at the beginning of 2025, and reminded that the 112-kilometer long section, from the Niš highway to Čačak, will connect half a million people.
He added that in the continuation of the high-speed railway Belgrade – Novi Sad, work is now underway on the section from Novi Sad to Subotica, as well as that the signing of an agreement with the EU on the construction of the high-speed railway Belgrade – Niš is expected, the value of which is approximately 2.7 billion euros, and reminded that the highway to Montenegro is being built and the Belgrade-Bar railway line is being renovated.
The US ambassador pointed out that the representatives of numerous companies informed him that the construction of good road infrastructure has a decisive effect on further investments and facilitates their businesses.