Polish PM hopes Ukraine-Poland border blockade problem to be resolved soon

MOSCOW. Dec 28 (Interfax) - The Polish government is making efforts to effectively uphold the interests of Polish carriers and drivers, a move that will prompt them to ease their blockade of the Polish-Ukrainian border and subsequently stop it altogether, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said at a press conference after a government meeting on Wednesday.

"I don't think that we will achieve the maximum result demanded by protesting Polish carriers, but what can be achieved appears to be able to help us calm emotions and maybe have the blockade lifted promptly. I think that we are close to believing that our efforts - both efforts in Kiev and talks in Brussels - will produce the result," Ukrainian media quoted Tusk as saying in a statement circulated by polskieradio24.pl.

As reported, Polish haulers began blocking the Yagodin-Dorohusk, Krakovets-Korczowa and Rava Russkaya-Hrebenne border crossings on November 6. The Oszukana Wies organization joined the protest on November 22, blocking the Shegini-Medyka border crossing. Only crossings handling empty trucks and light duty vehicles have not been affected by the blockade.

The blockade organizers, who demand the reinstatement of permits for Ukrainian truckers to operate in the EU, say they have permission from local authorities to continue their campaign until January 3, and at some border crossings until February. A new Dorohusk-Yagodin blockade to last through March has been announced, Polish media.