Forto and Vukićević on the bridge over the Tara River: End of the nightmare at Šćepan Polje

(Patria) - "For forty years, Šćepan Polje was a footnote on the map and a headline in the crime chronicles. It's time to turn it into a crossing between two European countries. The bridge over the Tara is not just a structure of steel and concrete — it is a bridge from improvisation to standard. We are doing our part with partners in Montenegro and with the Republika Srpska Roads Company," said Minister Edin Forto.

The Minister of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina held a meeting today in Sarajevo with the Minister of Transport of Montenegro, Maja Vukićević. They discussed the dynamics of constructing a new interstate bridge over the Tara River at the Hum–Šćepan Polje location and related road and rail projects of regional significance.

The second topic of discussion was the construction of the Adriatic-Ionian Highway.

"Montenegro shows a particular interest in this project. Bosnia and Herzegovina took steps about ten years ago regarding the initiation and preparation of documentation for this highway. I will remind you, this is a road that would connect Albania, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina in such a way that, from the Bosnian side, it would go from Počitelj through the hinterland of Neum, between Stolac and Neum, across Popovo Polje further towards Montenegro," Forto stated.

He emphasized that cooperation will intensify in the coming period and that the Čapljina-Nikšić railway line was also discussed.

"This is a railway that could, in the future, no matter how expensive it is, connect three ports - Ploče, Bar, and Drač. Generally, railway infrastructure is expensive, but we cannot escape the fact that investing in railways is an investment in the future. It is the transport of the future," Forto said.

The Minister of Transport of Montenegro, Maja Vukićević, stated that the most important topic of discussion was the project for the construction of an interstate bridge at the Šćepan Polje border crossing, but that they should also work jointly on the Čapljina-Nikšić railway line project.

"We will be in contact with our colleagues from Bosnia and Herzegovina to work together as well. In Montenegro, we already reconstructed part of the railway line to Nikšić in 2012. Today, we agreed to form a working group that would deal with this project in order to speed up procedures. We also discussed road transport, where we have really good cooperation," said Minister Vukićević.

She added that they also discussed the problems professional drivers face regarding Schengen rules and how they can be helped jointly.

"I believe the future of the region is in the European Union, and that will be the best help for our citizens and transporters. In Montenegro, we expect to become the next EU member state, and I wish the same for Bosnia and Herzegovina and other countries in the region," Vukićević concluded.