NO BLOCKADE OF BORDER CROSSING

GRADIŠKA, MARCH 23 /SRNA/ - Transport operators did not block the Gradiška border crossing this morning, as they were prevented from doing so by the police.

They began their protest by driving trucks along the Jabuka roundabout near the border crossing, but the police stopped them from blocking it.

After this drive, they ended the protest.

Mirko Ivanović, a member of the Consortium Logistika BiH, said that they do not want to provoke incidents, but that transport operators are frustrated and are seeking understanding for their problems.

"We hope for a solution. It's not just a matter of the 90-in-180-days stay in the Schengen Area; there are also certain internal issues that we need to resolve," said Mirko Ivanović.

The Ministry of the Interior of Republika Srpska announced last night that it will not allow border blockades or protests by transport operators using heavy motor vehicles, as announced by the Consortium Logistika, to disrupt the normal flow of traffic or the unhindered transport of goods and services.

At a telephone session last night, the Government of Republika Srpska requested that the Ministry of the Interior take all necessary actions and measures to prevent the announced protests and blockades of border crossings by transport operators on the territory of Republika Srpska.

The Consortium Logistika announced blockades of border crossings toward the EU for today due to restrictions on the stay of professional drivers from BiH in countries of the Schengen Area, which effectively denies them the right to work.