“Pocket”, hostage to administrative restrictions
Express newspaper
15/05/2026 15:16
Although it operates with restrictions, the frequency of travelers at the “Xhepishte” border crossing continues to increase both in entry and exit. According to data published to the media by the spokesperson for the SPB-Ohrid, Stefan Dimovski, in the period January-April of this year, 14.918 travelers were registered at this crossing in both directions of the border..
Dibër, May 15 – Although many years have passed since the opening of the “Xhepishte” border crossing on the border between North Macedonia and Albania, this crossing continues to function only locally and with limited hours. Residents on both sides of the border continue to demand that the crossing operate 24 hours a day and be open to all citizens, just like other border crossings between the two countries. However, despite numerous promises from the authorities in Skopje and Tirana, there has been no change in its status so far, writes the newspaper KOHA.
Although it operates with restrictions, the frequency of travelers at the “Xhepishte” border crossing continues to increase both in entry and exit. According to data published to the media by the spokesperson for the SPB-Ohrid, Stefan Dimovski, in the period January-April of this year, 14.918 travelers were registered at this crossing in both directions of the border.
Compared to the same period in 2025, there was a one percent increase in frequency, as last year in the first four months 14.708 passengers were registered. January had the highest frequency, with a total of 4.678 people entering and exiting through this crossing. The majority of passengers are Albanian citizens.
We visited the “Xhepishte” border crossing, which is located about 12 kilometers from Dibra. There we met RM from the village of Xhepishte in Dibra, who was crossing the border to visit his relatives in the village of Trebishte in Albania. “It is very good that this border crossing has been opened, but the problem remains that it operates with limited hours. During the summer season it works from 08:00 to 20:00, while during the winter from 08:00 to 18:00. We often go to our relatives in Trebishte and this limited hours hinders us a lot. If the closing time is passed, we are forced to travel to the ‘Bllate’ crossing, which is too far for us,” he says.
We also met with FD, a resident of the village of Tuçep in the Golloborda region in Albania. “I am an Albanian citizen and I often come to Dibër and the villages of Otishan and Xhepishtë, where I have relatives. The limited opening hours hinder us a lot. We have made many requests for the crossing to operate 24 hours, just like the ‘Bllatë’ crossing, but so far there is nothing new. Representatives of the governments of Tirana and Skopje have also come here and promised that the crossing will work 24 hours. Years have passed, but this has not happened yet,” he said.
There are also reactions from Albanian citizens who have opened restaurants and businesses on the Albanian side, very close to the border. They emphasize that, apart from the residents of the border strip, namely Dibra and the surrounding areas, citizens of other municipalities of North Macedonia cannot use this crossing, as it continues to have local status. According to them, the operation of the crossing without restrictions would significantly affect the economic, tourist and family development of the region on both sides of the border.