Due to the events which took place in Beslan, Russia closed the border
with Georgia in the framework of anti-terrorist acts. The closing of
the border has stopped the flow of cargo in and out of Armenia.
Federalist Hrair Karapetyan looks at this issue from Putin’s
“perspective”, but at the same time he is worried because this has a
negative impact on the economy and politics of Armenia.
“The accumulation of cargo vehicles has disappointed many businessmen,”
said H. Karapetyan. The deputy businessmen present in the National
Assembly hall were not worried at all, despite the fact that their
“cargo vehicles” had remained at the border. After the meeting, some
businessmen were discussing not about the closing of the border, but
rather the federalist’s reasons for worrying. “Why does he care? Why is
he solving the problem by using us?” Prime Minister of the RA Andranik
Margaryan said the following in response to H. Karapetyan:
“Unfortunately, authorities of the Republic of Armenia are unable to do
away with the embargo. We are in the process of getting permission from
Russia and Georgia to at least let the cargo vehicles entering Armenia
pass as transit vehicles.” The Prime Minister stated that he has met
with the Prime Minister of Georgia and the President of the Russian
Federation Vladimir Putin in person but there has been no positive
outcome. “There are no solutions. They have recommended that we receive
cargo from the port in Batum and we recommend our businessmen the same.
Of course, that will cause an increase in prices for them. Opening the
border is a secondary issue for them, whereas for us it is primary,”
said Andranik Markaryan. He added that they have let 20 cargo vehicles
pass” but according to him, “that means nothing. We have a very
important cargo vehicle-the fueled vehicle for the nuclear-power
station. We are trying to find the vehicle so that they can let it pass
because the loss of that vehicle can make a huge impact on the work
done at the nuclear power station.”
L.S.