Border Area

the area along a state border within which a special regime covering the use of border lands, waters, forests, and mineral and other natural resources is determined by national law and by agreement with contiguous states.

Treaties concluded between the USSR and contiguous countries concerning the regime of the state borders usually contain rules for navigation, fishing, and timber flotation in border waters and for hunting, use of forest resources, and mining near the border. Where necessary, the governments of the USSR and the Union republics establish border zones and cordons along the border. Border zones are usually established within the boundaries of an administrative raion, city, or the like; border cordons are never more than 2 km wide. A special regime is introduced in the border zones and cordons, and frontier troops have special authorization to prevent or halt border violations. An area of cleared land 4–5 m wide may be established on each side of the border line.