Polish transport officials say trucks unfoundedly held up on Belarusian border :: Charter'97 :: News

Belarusian officials came under attack from their Polish counterparts at a meeting of a joint commission on international road transport held in Minsk last week.

Polish transport officials’ criticism was targeted at Belarusian customs officers, who were accused of holding up Polish vehicles on unfounded grounds.

As the press office of the Belarusian transport ministry commented to BelaPAN, the ministry will ask the Belarusian State Customs Committee for its explanations after the Polish side produces official information on the matter.

Polish officials at the meeting also noted problems arising from the weighing of vehicles by Belarusian customs officers. They said that Polish carriers waste much time on the border because of the practice.

The Belarusian delegation suggested drafting an agreement on mutual recognition of the results of vehicle weighing as a solution to the problem.

The delegations informed each other of passenger and cargo carriage in 2004. It appeared that Polish haulage between the two nations and in transit via Belarus rose last year, while Belarusian carriers saw a decrease in traffic through and via Poland.

Belarusian and Polish transport officials are expected to agree this year’s quota on passenger carriage permits after Belarus’ Council of Ministers issues a directive that will specify how many haulage permits will be issued to foreign carriers by the country’s transport authorities.