Thursday, April 14 2022 18:39

ArmInfo. The common border and land routes are necessary for the development of Armenian-Russian economic relations. Sergey Mikheev, a Russian political scientist, radio and TV presenter, stated this on April 14 during the Yerevan-Moscow video bridge to clarify what the RA and the Russian  Federation lack for strengthening and development bilateral  relations.

According to him, in fact, this is a serious problem regarding the  deepening of economic ties in the first place. "There is apparently  no way to solve this. Maybe someday it will be possible to solve it,  because at some point there were other relations with Georgia, not  like now," the Russian expert said, adding that the current Georgian  authorities were offered different ways to resolve (the Abkhazian  conflict - ed. note) within the framework of a federation,  confederation, and then, perhaps, the situation would be somewhat  different.

At the same time, he expressed his conviction that in the event of a  successful solution of this issue, the situation in the South  Caucasus would seriously change.

"Now there should be more economics in our relations, and more  confidence and support for each other on security issues," the  political scientist summed up.  Since the beginning of the 90s of the  last century, the former Georgian road through the "Upper Lars"  checkpoint has become the only land route that provides communication  between Armenia and Russia. The checkpoint is periodically closed -  in winter due to avalanches, and in spring due to mudflows.

Then Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan at a government meeting  on January 26spoke about the need to create an alternative road to  Upper Lars. As an alternative, requiring a political decision by the  countries of the region, roads connecting Georgia and Russia through  the conflict zones - South Ossetia and Abkhazia - can serve.  It  should be noted that in January 2013, then Prime Minister of Georgia,  Bidzini Ivanishvili, considered it possible to resume the operation  of the Black Sea section of the railway, which passes through  Abkhazia.  Then Bidzina Ivanishvili said that if all parties agreed,  it would be possible to open the railway.  

Earlier, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Grigory  Karasin said that the agreement on the mechanisms of customs  administration and monitoring of goods between Russia and Georgia  brought the necessary clarity to the question of where the customs  borders of the Georgian side pass. 

"This is the Kazbegi region on the border with Russia, an area south  of the Inguri River (beyond which the territory of the Republic of  Abkhazia begins) and the vicinity of Gori (near the border with the  Republic of South Ossetia)," Karasin said in an interview with  Kommersant.  

Agreements on the mechanisms of customs administration and monitoring  of goods were reached after the third president of Georgia, Mikheil  Saakashvili, lifted a veto on Russia's entry into the WTO in 2011,  but only on the condition that trade corridors from Russia pass  through the territories not controlled by the Georgian authorities -  Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region, and that the parties invite  international mediators to control the flow of goods and label them.  The choice fell on the Swiss company SGS, with which Georgia signed a  contract six years after the signing of the agreement. Russia  welcomed this decision, but is in no hurry to sign the contract.  

As Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili explained, the  agreement with SGS allows the transportation of goods to Russia  through the Tskhinvali region, which is not controlled by official  Tbilisi, if an emergency occurs on the way to the Kazbegi-Upper Lars  checkpoint.  According to research by the British International Alert  non-governmental organization, the reconstruction of the Abkhaz  railway, which has been inactive since 1991 along the  Sochi-Sukhumi-Tbilisi-Yerevan route, will cost $ 277.5 million, which  will be paid back no earlier than in 100 years. $251 million is  required to restore the 190-kilometer Abkhaz section of Psou-Enguri,  while from Enguri to Zugdidi, the cost will be only $26.5 dollars.   From Zugdidi to Tbilisi and further to Yerevan, the road works and  does not need repairs. It is noteworthy that according to the  official conclusions of Abkhaz experts, this amount is $350- 400  million, while their Georgian colleagues believe that this will  require no more than $73 million. 

As of today, the Armenian authorities are working on the issue of  renting a ferry to transport goods to Russia.