Citing an agreement between Bulgaria and Turkey, Transport Minister Danail Papazov has assured that Bulgarian carriers will not be made to pay additional fees at the border.

In a Tuesday interview for the morning broadcast of Nova TV, Papazov vowed that the Bulgarian government would take reciprocal steps if Turkey failed to observe the agreement.

A few days ago, a communique of the Turkish government on new fees for carriers caused an escalation in tension in Bulgaria, according to reports of investor.bg.

The assurances of the Transport Ministry that Bulgaria would not be affected by the measure failed to convince local carriers, who threatened blockades at the border unless the matter was settled.

In his Tuesday interview, Papazov also commented on the deadly chain crash at the Yana road junction on Monday.

At around 11 am on Monday, just a few hours ahead of the official launch of the road junction connecting the Sofia ringroad to the Hemus Highway, a traffic accident claimed two lives and left many people injured.

Papazov argued that state bodies could not be held responsible for the car crash because the facility had only been unveiled after the permits required under the Spatial Development Act had been obtained.

He also explained that the Automobile Administration Executive Agency (AAEA) would undergo reforms aimed at cutting red tape creating preconditions for corruption.

Papazov said that a total of 6 or 7 hopefuls had applied for the vacancy of AAEA Executive Director, adding that three candidates were particularly successful.

Valentin Bozhkov, head of the AAEA, resigned after he was charged with malfeasance in office.

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