site.btaTurkish Authorities Protest Reinstatement of Disinfection Fee at Kapitan Andreevo when Number of Turkish Citizens on Roads Peaks

Turkish Authorities Protest Reinstatement of Disinfection Fee at Kapitan Andreevo when Number of Turkish Citizens on Roads Peaks

Istanbul, August 23 (BTA special by Nahide Deniz) - Turkey is unhappy with the reintroduction of mandatory disinfection for vehicles entering Bulgaria at Kapitan Andreevo in July and August, when Turkish gastarbeiters return to European countries via Bulgaria. "Bulgaria makes the largest profits during these two months because it forces gastarbeiters and their vehicles to undergo disinfection and the fees are collected in the coffers," the customs authorities in Kapikule said.

According to the Bulgarian side, Agriculture Minister Dessislava Taneva ordered the disinfection in July because of the complex epizootic situation in Turkey and the outbreak of brucellosis and anthrax.

The Turkish authorities deny the outbreak.

According to figures provided by the Edirne Regional Directorate of Customs and Trade since the beginning of August some 112,000 vehicles passed from Kapikule to Kapitan Andreevo. The customs authorities said that the receipts for Bulgaria were significant.

Vehicles entering from Turkey are sprayed with disinfectant. Cars are charged 3 euro and trucks 10 euro.

Turkish sources recall that the disinfection fee for cars was introduced in 2011 as a protective measure against the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, but was scrapped after it emerged that tap water was used instead of disinfectant. They say that vehicles are disinfected by the same company which was incriminated in fraud and its operation was suspended.