Project to create Belarusian port in Primorye postponed - governor

MINSK. June 1 (Interfax) - The project to create a Belarusian port in Russia's Primorye Territory is on hold until the economic situation improves, the region's governor Oleg Kozhemyako said.

"We have this project on hold. When the economic situation gets a little better, we will definitely launch it. This is a time of sanctions pressure; we need to wait a little," Kozhemyako was quoted as saying following a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk by the Belarusian state agency BelTA.

The implementation of such a project will remain relevant for a long time, because the supply of goods from Southeast Asia to the European part of Russia and to Belarus is required and important, and will always be in demand, he said.

"A port is a very serious structure, significant in terms of its costs. I think it all lies ahead. We are keeping this project on reserve; we will not implement it without partners from Belarus," he said.

According to BelTA, during previous visits by the head of Primorye Territory to Minsk, there were reports of the intention to create a joint port there as an important point on the transit route to China and of particular interest in light of the development of the Northern Sea Route.