Vucic: It is very important to be connected with our Gracanica, but also with Pristina, Tirana, and Durres

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, attends the opening of the section of the Peace Highway (E-80) Nis-Merosina.

After the presentation, there was a tour of the new 5.5-kilometer section of the highway.

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, said today that the Nis - Merdare highway would be a salvation for the Toplica District and that it was of great importance for Prokuplje, Blace, and Kursumlija and that it would cost one billion and 200, up to one billion and 400 million euros.

President Vucic said that as a part of the Berlin process in 2014, he had discussed with the then German Chancellor Angela Merkel about connecting Pristina and Nis by highway and pointed out that Pristina had not been interested in it.

"I think it is very important, to be connected with our Gracanica, but also with Pristina, Tirana, Durres. It facilitates our work and progress, import and export of goods and services," he said.

The President added that Serbia had much more to lose than Kurti.

"We have a lot more to lose than Kurti. We have a much stronger economy, people live much better, and our wages are a little more than twice as high as there. When it is increased for educators and health workers in September, and then for a significant number of members of the army, it will be felt. From the end of the year, we are also increasing the minimum wage,'' he said.

Vucic announced that the state of Serbia would help with schools in Kursumlija and that we would help Blace, Zitoradja.

"I want to thank the partners from the EU; they gave us 40 million euros as a gift for this road, that's a lot of money. Thanks for the good financing, especially from the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. I am proud that this road will connect us with both the Serbs and the Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija. This will be the busiest road in 25 years. Connecting with people of other nationalities is of great importance.

Why not sell our cherry in Albania? We must be promoters of cooperation, to earn more and live better. Let's lead a wise policy of merging and binding. In September, we will lay the foundation stone for a new factory in Nis, where there will be 375 jobs," the President said and added that the state would continue to invest in five districts, in Toplica, Nis and Pirot, Jablanica, and Pcinja.

The President of Serbia explained that a kilometer of road cost 8-9 million euros.

"Let people know that it's not cheap. When you finish hundreds of kilometers, that's billions of euros. The EU helps, of course, but always count on it being based on the financial stability of our country," Vucic said and added that it would be possible to pass through the new section already today after 1 pm.