All legal measures have been taken to resolve the problems of Bulgarian carriers at the Turkish border
16 May 2013 News
In view of the blockade of the Kapitan Andreevo border checkpoint and on the personal instructions of Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Marin Raykov, Bulgaria’s Ambassador in Ankara, Krasimir Tulechki, made firm representations to the relevant institutions in Turkey. As a result, the Turkish side issued instructions to remove all restrictions on Bulgarian carriers in Turkey. Confirmation of this was received from the Consul of the Republic of Bulgaria in Edirne.
The Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have taken all actions necessary to resolve the problems of Bulgarian carriers when crossing the border with Turkey. An urgent meeting between the two countries at the level of minister of transport has been requested. The Ambassador of the Republicof Bulgariain Ankara, Krasimir Tulechki, has taken all necessary measures regarding organisation and a response from the Turkish side is awaited.
The caretaker Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications, Kristian Krustev, has sent representatives of the Motor Vehicle Administration Executive Agency to the Kapitan Andreevo and Lessovo border checkpoints to monitor the situation on the ground.
The European Commission has been approached about the problems of the Bulgarian carriers.
An official letter has been sent to the International Transport Forum in regard to interpretation of the ECMT/CEMT rules. The ECMT Secretariat has officially confirmed that Bulgarian carriers that comply with the rules cannot be identified as having violated their provisions. The situation has been discussed with representatives of Serbia, which also had similar problems with Turkey.
The MTITC is acquainted with the problems of the carriers and supports their demands for the issue to be resolved.
The problems at the Bulgarian-Turkish border began on May 8 when Bulgarian carriers blockaded the Kapitan Andreevo border checkpoint because of measures unilaterally imposed by the Turkish side to check Bulgarian trucks. After the MTITC intervened, the blockade was temporarily lifted, but restrictions on the Bulgarian carriers have continued, leading to a renewed escalation of the situation.