| 22 May 2007 Currently, provisions of the modernization projects for Terekhovo and Grebnevo border checkpoints between Russia and Latvia are under approval, and a tender for their implementation is to be announced as soon as May. A tender for construction of Vientuli border checkpoint will be announced later because the work must be agreed with the Russian party. Talks with land plot owners have begun for purchase of land for development of border checkpoints. Modernization of Terekhovo and Grebnevo is scheduled for 2008 and 2009. Technical specifications for construction of freight vehicle parking lots are already drafted. It is expected that first parking lots will be commissioned by 1 August. Latvia’s foreign ministry sent a note to Russia suggesting that a new checkpoint be opened at the border, and Russia in response expressed its willingness to begin consultations on this matter. At the same time, the Russian party put forward its proposals to increase throughput of Terekhovo-Burachki to 1000 vehicles per day and Vientuli-Ludonka to 500 vehicles per day. According to proposals approved by government, modernization of Terekhovo, Grebnevo and Vientuli border checkpoints is to be completed by 2010. To serve the increasingly growing transport flow across the Latvian-Russian border, which is caused by Latvia’s decision to join the Schengen area, the border checkpoints’ throughput needs to be increased at least fivefold in the coming ten years.
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