site.btaUPDATED Bulgarian, Turkish Transport Ministers Discuss Connectivity

During a meeting in Svilengrad, Southern Bulgaria, on Thursday, Transport and Communications Minister Nikolay Sabev and Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil Karaismailoglu discussed ways to ease cross-border traffic between the two countries and to cut the lines of waiting lorries. 

After the meeting and the talks between the Bulgarian and the Turkish experts, the sides signed a joint statement.

Sabev said that an agreement was reached to increase the capacity of the Kapitan Andreevo-Kapikule border checkpoint by 30 per cent, and by 100 per cent of the Lessovo-Hamzabeyli checkpoint. The Kapitan Andreevo checkpoint will have three lanes for temperature-controlled lorries while the waiting vehicles will be handled on the first come-first passed principle. 

The Bulgarian Transport Minister also said that another issue that was discussed was the liberalization of the market for permits for cargo transport, as well as rail transport. Bulgaria will also join Hungary's initiative for an express corridor to Turkey via Bulgaria and Serbia which will be discussed at a meeting of the transport ministers of these countries in March. 

Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil Karaismailoglu said that the two countries now have short-term plans and steps intended to solve the problems of cross-border traffic. He said that an option was discussed to redirect a portion of the cargo carried by road to maritime and rail transport. The participants in the meeting concurred that ro-ro facilities are of primary importance for maritime transport. 

Karaismailoglu also said that the Çanakkale 1915 Bridge will be unveiled on February 26 which he said will one more major connecting axis, including to Bulgaria. 

Sabev said that he is soon to have a meeting with Turkey's Economy Minister.