VITEBSK, 27 June (BelTA) – Belarus and Latvia will modernize their border checkpoints Urbany-Silene and Grigorovshchina-Paternieki with the help of international technical aid, Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Committee of Belarus Alexander Bogdevich told media on 27 June, BelTA has learned.
The commission on operation and coordinated development of checkpoints on the Belarusian-Latvian state border held a meeting in the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee on 27 June. Among the key issues on the agenda were draft programs of international technical aid included into the Latvia-Lithuania-Belarus cross-border cooperation program of the European Neighborhood Instrument for 2014-2020. “The matter pertains to the modernization of the border checkpoints Urbany-Silene and Grigorovshchina-Paternieki. The upgrading project in Urbany envisages the construction of a mobile X-ray cargo inspection system. We expect a €3.5 million tranche of the EU international technical assistance that will be allocated to Belarus for the construction of the facility. The move will help speed up customs control procedures at the border,” Alexander Bogdevich explained.
Latvia will be the main grant receiver. Besides, at least 10% of national financing is expected from each party. The financing will cover the reconstruction of the checkpoints, modernization and expansion of highways, and the development of a separate path for pedestrians.
“We have to go through all the stages of obtaining international technical assistance. The first date is 12 September. We need to submit a joint application to the European Commission for final approval. By June next year we must meet the technical specifications and provide construction documents and confirm the size of funds that we apply for. That is, the actual construction will begin in 2017-2018,” Alexander Bogdevich said.
Ilmars Snucins, Deputy State Secretary on Tax, Customs and Accountancy at Finance Ministry of Latvia, noted that this is a long-term project. Therefore synchronization and consistency of all actions are needed.
With regard to Grigorovshchina-Paternieki, major reconstruction was undertaken in Verkhnedvinsk District back in 2014. Now Belarus will be allocated a grant (about Ђ600,000) to match the road infrastructure with the one that will be developed in the Latvian section. Latvia will receive a grant of Ђ2.9 million because they are expected to do a more extensive modernization of its border checkpoint Paternieki and the adjacent infrastructure.
