Polish agriculture minister calls Polish-Ukrainian border situation tense

MOSCOW. Feb 13 (Interfax) - Polish Agriculture Minister Czeslaw Siekierski has called the situation at the Ukrainian-Polish border, partially blocked by Polish farmers, tense.

"I must admit that the situation is tense. Polish farmers spilled some of the grain from Ukrainian trucks. In my opinion, this is the wrong form of protest, but it is often used by farmers in different countries. Farmers could not contain their emotions, but we should remember about their very difficult economic situation. They have no money to buy fertilizers and plant protection products at the beginning of the spring sowing. It's hard not to see they are desperate," Ukrainian media quoted Siekierski's statement on the Polish Agriculture Ministry's website.

The minister said he wanted complicated problems to be resolved through dialogue. "On behalf of Polish farmers, I apologize for this act of despair and ask for understanding of their extremely difficult situation. We are conducting technical negotiations with the Ukrainian Agriculture Ministry and seek to define the terms of trade, which would limit the influx of goods disrupting stability on the agriculture and food markets," he said.

Siekierski expressed dissatisfaction with the comments made by Ukrainian officials on Monday and said they were "too harsh and emotional in presenting information."

In his opinion, Polish farmers have helped Ukraine and want to continue their assistance. "But they want their assistance to benefit the Ukrainian budget and farmers, rather than oligarchs who own vast plots of land for growing grain and other crops. Ukrainian agricultural holdings are behind these large imports, and this destabilizes the agriculture and food markets in Europe," Siekierski said.

As reported, Polish farmers opened Ukrainian trucks and spilled some of the grain near the Yagodin-Dorohusk checkpoint at the Ukrainian-Polish border on Sunday. Ukraine demanded that the Polish police investigate the case, and the demand was granted.