Vice-Minister Evaldas Ignatavičius told BNS Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis initiated a bilateral transport task force during a visit in Latvia in May.
"Improving communication via local roads crossing the state border is in the interest of both countries, as this will contribute to closer cooperation between border regions. Lithuania and Latvia have concluded an intergovernmental cross-border cooperation commission, which, among other things, addresses the matters of roads crossing the state border. However, efforts to translate practical solutions into reality sometimes take time," the foreign vice-minister said.
Last week, the Lietuvos Rytas daily said that Lithuanian roadmen had repaired a road Rokiškis-Ilzenbergas leading all the way to the Latvian border, but the Latvian neighbors changed their initial plan of repairing their stretch of the road and put up a no-entry sign.
Travelers who want to reach Latvia via Ilzenbergas in Rokiškis district, northern Lithuania, are forced to turn around and search for alternative routes.
Although the stretch of the remote road cannot be used, Lithuanian services are marking the road in hopes of changes in the Latvian position.
The road sign banning traffic in Latvia was put up about a month ago, while signs about road fees and speed limits still remain on the Lithuanian side.
Before the start of road repairs, Rokiškis District Mayor Vidmantas Kanopa sent an inquiry to the Latvian administration about the plans, and the neighbors assured the repairs was necessary and pledged to continue the work in their territory.
According to the daily, it turned out that the no-entry sign was put up after a Latvian farmer recovered his land in the border territory, which the road crosses.
The Latvian administration failed to inform the Rokiškis district municipality about the restitution plans.
