Cross-Border Border Guard Project Launched in Southern Poland

Lutowiska/Bratislava, 22 May (TASR-correspondent) - A new cross-border project focused on former border guard stations was launched in the Polish village of Lutowiska near the Slovak and Ukrainian borders on Friday, with Slovak Interior Ministry State Secretary Michal Kalinak attending the opening ceremony, TASR's Warsaw correspondent reported on the same day. The project includes information boards with multimedia content at the sites of former border guard stations along the Polish-Czechoslovak border. It also features the restored Les courier route dating back to the Second World War, which was once used by resistance members to cross the border towards Hungary. "Although most of the activities are located on the soil of our neighbours, the geographical proximity and minimal language barrier also make our territory more attractive," said Kalinak. According to the state secretary, the project concerns the Slovak districts of Bardejov, Svidnik, Medzilaborce and Snina. Meanwhile, on Saturday, 23 May, a joint tactical civil protection exercise involving Slovak and Polish local authorities will take place in the village of Mikulasova in Bardejov district, focusing on simulating and extinguishing a forest fire. A total of 21 municipalities will take part in the exercise, including 13 Slovak and eight Polish ones. The aim is to help rescue services to be better prepared for emergencies and natural disasters linked to climate change. Kalinak also highlighted the importance of cooperation between border regions during the new EU funding period, in which integrated cross-border projects will, in his view, form an important part of development. "We must prepare together now, because the future will belong to those who are prepared," he said. mf/df