Ukraine, Hungary agree on opening new border checkpoint

MOSCOW. April 9 (Interfax) - Ukraine and Hungary have agreed on opening the Velykaya Palad-Nagyhegyes border checkpoint for cars, Ukrainian media said, citing the press service for the Ukrainian Restoration Ministry.

Additionally, the sides agreed to allow empty trucks with a mass exceeding 7.5 tonnes to pass through the Luzhanka-Beregsurány checkpoint.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister, Restoration Minister Alexander Kubrakov and Hungarian Ambassador to Ukraine Heizer Antala signed respective amendments to the intergovernmental agreement on transborder traffic control.

It was noted that the new agreements with Hungary required ratification.

"The signed amendments to the agreement with Hungary will allow planning projects and developing infrastructure for the new checkpoint, Velykaya Palad-Nagyhegyes, and ensuring the traffic of empty trucks through Luzhanka," Kubrakov said.

The possible construction of another cargo checkpoint, Dyida-Beregdaróc, is being considered to increase the Ukrainian-Hungarian border throughput, he said.

Ukraine is working to launch negotiations on the joint customs and border control with Hungary, Kubrakov said.

"That will allow us to speed up controlling procedures and cut border crossing time," he said.

There are five operational checkpoints at the Ukrainian-Hungarian border, yet only the Chop-Záhony checkpoint is open to trucks with a mass exceeding 7.5 tonnes. It accepts both loaded and empty trucks. About 220 trucks go through the Chop-Záhony checkpoint every day.