In September 2004, the Ukrainian dredges and buoys were "implanted" in the Romanian side of the Chilia channel. The authorities in Kiev announced yesterday the finalization of the works at the Bistroe navigable channel of the Danube Delta. The opening will be made immediately after Easter. The announcement comes in the context in which, two weeks ago, Ukraine has been warned by the UN about the commitments regarding the Bistroe channel.
The announcement confirmed a statement made a week ago at Ismail by a representative from the Ministry of Transport in Kiev, which announced that Ukraine has managed, after almost seven years, to complete the navigable channel that connects the Reni harbor to the Black Sea. Bistroe will be inaugurated officially during the coming weeks, the government in Kiev intending to invite Bucharest officials to the festivities as well. So far, there haven't ben any reactions from our Government members.
The first inauguration
The Bistroe scandal, a conflict between Ukraine and the international environmental and transportation conventions, broke out in 2002, when Kiev announced that it intends to regain their supremacy at sea and river mouths of the Danube, by arranging a navigable channel.
Of the six variants of the project presented to the international communities, Ukraine chose the Bistroe solution, which the environment experts considered the most harmful for the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. Officially started in May 2004, the Bistroe channel has been challenged by the entire international community that criticized Ukraine for the devastating impact of the channel on the Delta as well as for the numerous violations of the law.
The apex was reached in September 2004 when the Ukrainian buoys were anchored in the Romanian bank, which started a diplomatic conflict between Bucharest and Kiev.
Tran
