Belarus, RF reach understanding on transit of goods :: Charter'97 :: News

Belarussian and Russian customs officials have reached mutual understanding on transit of Russian cargoes through Belarus’ territory. Head of the Belarussian Customs Committee Alexander Shpilevsky told journalists on Wednesday both sides reached full mutual understanding on transit.

In his words, at the last session the customs committees of the two countries worked out clear criteria of interaction in transit. Moreover, Belarus and Russia are preparing a draft agreement on transit of Russian goods. The essence of the document is to determine “common rules of behaviour on the border,” Shpilevsky said.

Belarus is concerned about two problems. The first problem is to remove differences in Belarussian and Russian documents, which should presented on the border. The second one is, “Within the 24 hours we should receive information on the delivery of goods. For Belarus, it is important transited goods be delivered to Russia and not return to Belarus. Our relations with Russia’s Customs Service are practically ideal in this aspect,” he said.

Shpilevsky cited as an example four cases when goods have not been delivered to Russia. In three cases they have been robbed. In 2001 Lithuanian transporters did not deliver goods, which are estimated of 10 million U.S. dollars, on the Belarussian-Lithuanian border. And Belarus had to escort goods to the Russian border, he said.