On December 9, 2021 the Polimski Museum hosted the final conference of the project Augmenting Cooperation – From Christian Antiquities Towards Enhanced Tourism. The aim of the project was to contribute to the development of tourism through the joint valorisation and promotion of archaeological and cultural heritage of the cross-border area of Montenegro and Albania.

The director of the Polimski Museum Violeta Folic stated that the results that they achieved are beyond their expectations. She pointed out that the locations of the excavations are exquisite and that in Berane, a basilica with an annex building was discovered as well as auxiliary buildings and two house walls. She thanked Konstantin Dojic of the Diocese of Budimlje and Niksic, the Albanian partners, the inhabitants of the village of Rzanica and the municipality of Berane for their quality cooperation in this project.

The Vice President of the Municipality of Berane, Darko Stojanovic, thanked the involved partners for their successful implementation of the European project. He added that cooperation with Albanian partners is at a high level and that he expects that this type of projects extends to the benefit of all citizens and to the culture. Mr. Dojic pointed out the significance of the cross-border cooperation and that this is the fourth project that the Diocese of Budimlje and Niksic is implementing. He added that they have extensive cooperation with the Polimski Museum and that the results of the project are remarkable.

Holta Koci from the organization Albania Community Assist thanked her colleagues from the Polimski Museum for their hospitality and cooperation and stated that during the project there were challenges and issues and that mutual cooperation assisted in completion of all activities. She added that cooperation between the partners will continue and she hopes that more exchange programmes for students will be developed. She concluded with the statement that the best result of this project is the established friendship of the partners.

The participants were addressed also by Predrag Lutovac, archaeologist at the Polimski Museum. He stated that the Polimski Museum was the first to record all the archaeological sites and on the basis of the content, they chose the location for excavation in order to complete the collection of the museum. He also stated that this is a long-term and successful cooperation that will not be interrupted, but will continue over time through various activities, with the desire to continue to visit the Shkodra region and Albanian friends and for them to come to Montenegro.

During the project, two main archaeological sites in Montenegro and Albania, Tumbarice Kastrum near Berane and Christian Basilica Hoti in Kastrat, were excavated, preserved, protected, promoted and equipped with signage and facilities and also integrated into the local tourist offer.