Ukraine to go ahead with trench on border with Russia
RIA Novosti
Moscow, 4 May: Ukraine will continue to dig a trench on the border with Russia but only on its own territory, Ukrainian First Deputy Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ohryzko said today.
"We won't be digging on Russian territory. We're doing this on our territory and it won't have any impact on continuing demarcation work (on the Russian-Ukrainian border)," he told journalists today.
At present Ukraine is digging a 400-km trench on the border between Russia and Luhansk Region. Ohryzko said this is being done to prevent the activities of criminal groups engaged in smuggling. He said Ukraine sustains losses running to many millions because of contraband from the Dniester region (in Moldova).
"We have the right to take any steps on our own territory to minimize these losses," the diplomat said.
The press centre of Ukraine's State Customs Service announced plans to dig a 400-km trench in Luhansk Region yesterday. It is planned to complete the work in 2006. According to Ukrainian border guards, nine kilometres of trench have already been built on the border with Russia.
"Last year we focused on engineering works on the border and are continuing this work this year," the press centre said, quoting the head of the Luhansk border guard detachment, Artur Korol.