Cargo transport between Slovakia and Ukraine resumed on Wednesday, August 19, at 18:25, Cargo Slovakia railways spokesperson Margareta Grecová told the TASR newswire. Ukrainian railways approved the resumption of trains moving across the border after Slovakia decided to switch off an x-ray scanning facility at Užhorod-Matovce.
The state-run Ukrainian Railways stopped cargo transport via a unilateral decision at the crossing on August 17 at 7:00. The Ukrainians said the reason was that the scanner operated by Slovakia's Customs Administration allegedly poses a threat to the health of railway crew members.
"At the direct order of the minister (Transport, Posts and Telecommunications Minister Ľubomír Vážny), the scanner was switched off yesterday (Tuesday, August 19) at about 16:30. This information was conveyed today (Wednesday) to the Ukrainian side through Slovakia's Customs Administration and Cargo Slovakia, and we are waiting for their statement," Slovakia's Transport, Posts and Telecommunications Ministry spokesman Stanislav Jurikovič told TASR on the morning of August 19.
The Slovak government also made a decision to further pursue resolution of the problem of cargo transport between Slovakia and Ukraine at an international diplomatic level, as Slovakia's Transport Ministry has asked the Foreign Affairs Ministry for assistance. TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
