Finance Minister: cargo transit “under control” by Georgian customs authorities for enforcing sanctions
“This model, when the agencies involved in border management jointly carry out analytical activities within the scope of competence and experience [...] is widely approved in the leading countries of the world”, Khutsishvili told the audience on the anniversary occasion, stressing the importance of the programme in ensuring cooperation between Georgia’s Finance and Interior ministries and international partners. Photo: Georgian Finance Ministry
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Georgian customs authorities have the transit of cargo across the country’s economic borders “under control” and are in communication with their international partners to ensure an enforcement of sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili said on Wednesday.
Speaking at an event marking the 10th anniversary of the United Nations- and World Customs Organisation-supported Container Control Programme in Georgia, Khutsishvili said origins and destinations of cargo transit, export and re-export were monitored by local authorities who were “actively” involved in the enforcement of the international sanctions.
He further said the Georgian Government had “good communication” with relevant organisations from the United States and European Union member states in the process of monitoring the economic borders of the country, pledging to continue fulfilling the related commitments.
As part of the anniversary ceremony, 22 staff members of the interagency division involved in the work of the programme were awarded certificates of appreciation and commemorative gifts from the UNODC for their “conscientious performance and outstanding professionalism”. Photo: Georgian Finance Ministry
This model, when the agencies involved in border management jointly carry out analytical activities within the scope of competence and experience [...] is widely approved in the leading countries of the world”, Khutsishvili told the audience on the anniversary occasion, stressing the importance of the programme in ensuring cooperation between Georgia’s Finance and Interior ministries and international partners.
The official thanked the international partners for their support and “fruitful cooperation” and pledged “full support” in the process, the Ministry said.
The programme of the World Customs Organisation, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Export Control and Related Border Security Programme of the US marked 10 years since its establishment in Georgia.
Results achieved by Georgia in the Container Control Programme - a project of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the World Customs Organisation - were in focus of Georgian Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri’s comments on Wednesday that marked the 10th anniversary of the programme.
More than 90 operations have been suspended by the Georgian customs service in the country on suspicion of violations of sanctions imposed by the international community against Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine, Lasha Khutsishvili, the Georgian Finance Minister said on Tuesday.
Levan Kakava, the Head of the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia, signed an agreement on Georgia's participation in the European Union Customs Programme on Saturday.
A prospect of sanctioned Russian products entering the European Union through Georgia is “inconceivable,” Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili said on Monday, noting “not only Georgia but also the EU has a lot of control” over preventing the scenario.
Heavy rainfall has caused a temporary suspension of the Kazbegi customs checkpoint in Georgia’s north, with the state of emergency affecting the wider region, the Georgian Revenue Service announced on Monday.