Open Armenian-Turkish border to deprive Georgia of monopoly in freight

PanARMENIAN.Net -
"Georgia is not interested in the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border, since open Armenian-Turkish border will deprive Georgia of monopoly in freight transportation to Armenia," Shirak Torosyan, Armenian National Assembly MP, Chairman of Patriotic Association of Javakheti told a news conference on February 3. According to him, in case of open borders, Georgia will have to revise its customs duties.



"Georgian approach that opening of PPC Upper Lars is beneficial only to Armenia, since through this road mainly Armenian goods are imported, is incorrect. In the case of opening of the Upper Lars Georgia will become a transit country for importing of these goods, " Shirak Torosyan said. He stressed that via this road a plenty of Georgian goods will be exported, like Georgian wine and mineral water, which is certainly very beneficial to Georgia.



Upper Lars is a village and Russian checkpoint in the Russian-Georgian border on the Georgian Military Road in North Ossetia. The situation around PPC, changes in its operation and location repeatedly led to conflicts between Russia and Georgia and protests from the Georgian side. Upper Lars closed for the reconstruction on July 8, 2006. Residents of North Ossetia, natives of Kazbegi district of Georgia, having close relatives and farms in the area, were deprived of the opportunity to cross the state border. Until recently, they enjoyed the right of visa-free crossings of the border with special permits in passports.



On May 5, 2009 the construction of multilateral road "Upper Lars" of North Ossetia customs was officially finished. In 2009, discussions over the opening of the checkpoint resumed. The opening of the border is believed to contribute to economic recovery in the border areas and ease the Armenia-Russia trade. The planned opening of the PPC is projected for March 1, 2010.