site.btaTruck Drivers Threaten to Block Bulgarian-Greek Border in Protest against Long Wait for Border Crossing

Truck Drivers Threaten to Block Bulgarian-Greek
Border in Protest against Long
Wait for Border Crossing


Blagoevgrad, southern Bulgaria, May 26 (BTA) - Truck drivers threaten to block the Kulata checkpoint on the Bulgarian-Greek border over the long wait to cross the border. At a news conference here Friday, the Union of Bulgarian Transport Workers said the problems with crossing the border are aggravating for heavy-duty trucks and they are starting a series of protest actions over this, and a border blockade is not to be ruled out.

"We have repeatedly alerted the competent Bulgarian authorities about the situation. We have made specific proposals for optimizing the capacity of the border crossing and reducing the corruption pressure at the border," said Alexander Stamboliiski, deputy leader of the Union of Bulgarian Transport Workers.

The Union's position is backed by the National Association of Bulgarian Carriers.

Truck drivers' woes were discussed Friday at a meeting between the Union of International Carriers and officials of the Customs Agency. The Customs people have agreed that separate scales will be set up at the border crossing to weigh in empty trucks and cargo mini buses. One problem is the ongoing refurbishment of the Promachonas checkpoint on the Greek side of the border and more measures can be introduced only after it is over to further streamline the border crossing by trucks. PK/LN/
//