The authorities of the near-border Kharkov Region (Ukraine) have called the project of building an international airport at the Russia-Ukraine border “hardly affordable” and “unlikely”.
      
      “While the Russian laws allow taking such decisions at the regional government level, our laws do not give us such right. The issues like this are supposed to be discussed at the level of the respective ministries and the governments of Ukraine and the RF”, as the first deputy head of the Kharkov regional administration Vladimir Babaev comments a statement of councillor of the Belgorod Region governor Vitaliy Shishkov saying that building of the airport will start this year.
      
      As Vladimir Babaev says, the project has been discussed since 1986, “when there were no borders between Russia and Ukraine yet”. According to Vitaliy Shishkov, Russian and foreign investors are ready to invest US$1.2 billion in construction of an international airport at the Russia-Ukraine border and the process of purchasing a piece of land for this aim has almost finished.
      
      The Mayor of Kharkov (Ukraine) deems that the project of building a joint airport at the border of the countries is beyond the financial abilities of the Kharkov Region budget.
      
      Not long ago it was reported that the airport at the Russia-Ukraine border would be located 35 kilometres distant from Kharkov (Ukraine) and 37 kilometres distant from Belgorod (Russia). According to Shishkov, the project was approved by the ministers of external affairs of both countries.
      
      Related news: Russia and Ukraine to Build International Airport
      
      Source: www.g2p.ru