“If it continues like this, many exporters would have a big problem in terms of selling apricots. The problem was solved in a short time, but the issue requires a fundamental solution”, said Director of “Ararat Food” Company of “Spayka” LLC, Hamlet Tadevosyan, in the conversation with Aravot.am, referring to the problem raised once again at the Lars checkpoint. A big problem was raised for Armenian, Turkish, Azerbaijani and Georgian transport companies when Georgia decided to cut down the working hours of Stepantsminda-Lars checkpoint. The checkpoint has switched to an eight-hour working regime instead of the former 24 hours regime: from 09:00 – 18:00. Note that the exports from Armenia are conducted mainly by this road. And in the intensive period of export of apricot, the Armenian transport companies were in a difficult situation: 200-300 vehicles stood in a queue on the border.
During the summer and autumn, to ensure a smooth transition of export of RA agricultural products, by the instruction of RA Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan, Minister of Transport and Communication, Gagik Beglaryan, has discussed the issue of extending the working hours of Stepantsminda-Lars checkpoint with the Georgian counterparts. According to the obtained agreement, the working hours of the checkpoint is added by three hours. As of 29 June 2015, the working hours of Stepantsminda-Lars checkpoint is defined from 06:00 a.m. to 21:00 p.m. The transport companies are pleased with this arrangement, but they consider it as a temporary solution.
In the conversation with Aravot.am, Hamlet Tadevosyan said that according to his sources, now the government is holding discussions and negotiations with the Georgian side to give a long-term solution to the problem. Our interlocutor sees the solution as follows: “Since Armenia is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union, Armenia needs to have a separate window with Russia in this checkpoint to possibly facilitate the paper work. Otherwise, what is the advantage of Armenia’s membership to the EaEU, when our vehicles among with the vehicles of Azerbaijan and Georgia will likewise stand in a queue in the neutral territory between Georgia and Russia? This is one of the key solutions, which will help Armenia to avoid the queues and such problems.” The Company, in fact, has submitted this offer to the RA Government.
Nelly GRIGORYAN
