Post by tufta on Feb 1, 2011 11:41:52 GMT 1
//In what is perhaps the epitamy of the phrase ‘a logistical nightmare’ Polish trucks are stuck on the Russian boarder. Russian border guards refuse to allow the trucks to cross into Estonia and Belarus due to a lack of official paperwork. A cross-border transport agreement on truck transportation expired in mid-January leaving Polish truckers high and dry.
To begin with, Polish truck drivers were fined between 150-180 złoty for invalid documentation. However as of today the border has been closed to HGVs. The official reason for the failure of Poland and Russia to reach a consensus over a new agreement is that Russia are unhappy over Polish demands to increase the number of trucks permitted by 50,000: a move it is argued by Russia will endanger its airfreight operators. Russia further complains that it gave notice to Polish firms, yet they still sent trucks to Russia just before the 15th.
On the outside this is a run-of-the-mill dispute and perhaps shows a cavalier attitude on behalf of Polish transport companies. However, in the context of recent events it can be interpreted as a flexing of muscles. Since very little happens in Russia outside of the Kremlin’s control it would be foolhardy to ignore a possible political motivation for the trouble. Rather than closing the border from the opposite side first and refusing to allow any trucks into Russia, the authorities have chosen to go for the most provocative option. By hostaging Polish truckers in minus temperatures Russia has made a statement to Warsaw.
The statement, if that is what it is, can be read as a shot across the bow of Poland; in response to both the controversy over the MAC report regarding the Smolensk air crash and Poland’s involvement in Belarus. This is of course conjecture on my part, but as mentioned above Russia chose the most extreme option legally open to it and so ulterior motives have to be considered.//
To begin with, Polish truck drivers were fined between 150-180 złoty for invalid documentation. However as of today the border has been closed to HGVs. The official reason for the failure of Poland and Russia to reach a consensus over a new agreement is that Russia are unhappy over Polish demands to increase the number of trucks permitted by 50,000: a move it is argued by Russia will endanger its airfreight operators. Russia further complains that it gave notice to Polish firms, yet they still sent trucks to Russia just before the 15th.
On the outside this is a run-of-the-mill dispute and perhaps shows a cavalier attitude on behalf of Polish transport companies. However, in the context of recent events it can be interpreted as a flexing of muscles. Since very little happens in Russia outside of the Kremlin’s control it would be foolhardy to ignore a possible political motivation for the trouble. Rather than closing the border from the opposite side first and refusing to allow any trucks into Russia, the authorities have chosen to go for the most provocative option. By hostaging Polish truckers in minus temperatures Russia has made a statement to Warsaw.
The statement, if that is what it is, can be read as a shot across the bow of Poland; in response to both the controversy over the MAC report regarding the Smolensk air crash and Poland’s involvement in Belarus. This is of course conjecture on my part, but as mentioned above Russia chose the most extreme option legally open to it and so ulterior motives have to be considered.//