Armenian Gov’t addresses Georgian counterparts to consider maritime transport as “alternative” to Larsi border-crossing point

Georgian Maritime Transport Agency on Friday said the country’s transit corridor continued to work in an overloaded mode and despite the fact that the relevant state bodies have worked round-the-clock, the management of cargo flows has been “significantly” complicated.

The Agency noted the Zemo (Upper) Larsi border-crossing point between Armenia and Russia has been the only connecting land point, where processing of transit cargo “has been often delayed” for several weeks due to high overload, creating“significant” challenges for Armenia, especially in the case of perishable products and food, as well as essence products.

Based on the mentioned issue, the Armenian Government addressed the Georgian Government to consider maritime transport as an alternative to the Larsi border-crossing point, which would process Armenian transit cargo for food and perishable products, as well as essence products”, Georgian Maritime Transport Agency noted.

In a statement over the matter the Agency reminded that the land-locked Armenia “traditionally” has used Georgian harbours and has conducted international trade.

In this regard, it is significant that Georgia is a party to the International Convention on Transit Trade of Land-locked States. In accordance with this Convention, land-locked states must have free access to the sea and be on an equal footing with coastal states for the purpose of using free access to the sea”, the statement concluded.