Minister of Environment and Physical Planning Abdilaqim Ademi, Albanian counterpart Lefter Koka, and Kosovo Deputy Environment Minister Shpetim Rudi held Thursday the second trilateral meeting on proposed transboundary protected area Shar Planina-Korab-Deshat.

Minister Ademi stressed this is a joint project of declaring Shar Planina a protected area.

"Albania and Kosovo have already declared a portion of the territory as a protected area, Macedonia is set to do the same in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), NGOs and local authorities. A part of Shar Planina deserves protection, thus contributing to the nature protection, but also economic development of the area through eco-tourism and promotion of natural and cultural heritage", said Ademi.

Albanian Minister Koka said nature in the three countries was wonderful, whereas such projects contributed to good neighborly relations.

"Enlargement of the protected zone in Macedonia would protect this wonderful nature, where we share water resources, forests and other environmental elements, thus jointly contributing to their protection", added Koka.

Kosovo Deputy Minister Rudi said the area was a gift of nature.

"Besides protecting the natural richness, eco and mountain tourism will be developed, which will be beneficial for the population there", stressed Rudi.

UNEP official Pier Carlo Sandei expressed hope that Macedonia would declare the area a national park and find true balance among the protection of bio-diversity, nature and region's economic development.