Upper Lars: “Apaven’s” director promises hot summer of freight transfers

Economy 17:24 21/05/2010

Upper Lars: “Apaven’s” director promises hot summer of freight transfers

Author Hasmik Hambardzumyan

It’s much talked recently about that Kazbeki – “Upper Lars” check point is to be again closed down since neither Georgia, nor Armenia use it. Georgian experts of economy have even declared that the opening of the check point has been beneficial for only the Russian side as they transfer things to Russian military base located in Gyumri.

Is it really true that the Armenian side doesn’t gain anything by the opening of “Upper Lars”? To find answers to the question Panorama.am had an interview with “Apaven” - the largest freight transfer company director Gagik Agajanyan.

-Mister Agajanyan, the Georgian economic circles are guided by the thought that the “Upper Lars” isn’t beneficial for Armenia. How would you comment on this?

-I’d say this is the Armenian side to gain most of all, because Armenia-Russia trade circulation is possible to carry out in its shortest way – Kazbeki – “Upper Lars” check point. It is a very small territory for the transfers taking into account that the vehicles cut that way in 8-12 hours.

Taking into consideration the opening of the check point, the private freight transfer companies, particularly “Apaven” company has signed a deal with a Russian company and due to that, now it’s possible for us to make use of 130 container platforms located in Russia, to load any type of freight, to take them through Russian containers to Vladicaucasus and meet them here in Armenia after 12 hours.

-Does it mean that the transfers have become more operative?

Not only they’ve become operative, but taking into account the opening of that check point, we’ve founded an enormous system, institution of freight transfer. The same thing took us 3 times longer way before – first Novorosiysk port, then Poti. For example, we had freights from Omsk to Vladicaucasus and then from “Upper Lars” to Armenia; this process took us 19 days; but if we consider the former transfer system that would last at least 35 days.

We used, we use and we’re going to use that way. All the more as good times – summer approaches and in summer and autumn we have agriculture products to be transported, since their market is both Armenia and Russia. Those are fragile products, for example, apricot, is an easily spoiled product and we need little time and correspondent climate for their transfer.

That way is mostly used neither by the Georgian side nor the Russian side; it is mostly used by the Armenian side.

-Georgian mass media spread news that only Russia makes use of the check point as they have Russian military base in Gyumri. How would you comment on this observation?

I wouldn’t agree, as I’ve been to that check point and I know its technical saturation; I’m sure neither the Russian nor the Georgian side transfers any armament through that check point as neither side has no similar check point in any of their borders. I don’t think Georgia would approve such freight transfer which isn’t under their interests.

-You’ve talked about the operative side of the transfers, but what are the statistical data? How much freight transfer has been conducted through that way?

I don’t think the statistical info up to July 1 could create the real image of the possibilities of the way. The road has been frozen till recent days and the trucks are banned to pass it. Larger amount of freights will be possible to transfer in trucks since June 1. After that we’ll have the real changed image when nothing bans the transfers and when the toll rises significantly.

After the opening of the check point – in March and in April, limited vehicles were allowed to pass it as measures corresponding to international standards were needed.

Anyway, about 500 vehicles, including passenger cars, passed “Upper Lars” during these two months. Of course, it’s not a high figure, but we should take into account the thick snow layer.

-Mister Agajanyan, do you think it’s impossible the Georgian side makes a decision to close the check point?

I don’t think it’s possible Georgia will close the check point if, of course, the check point doesn’t serve quite different third mission.

-Particularly?

-Particularly, if it’s discovered that Russian military base in Gyumri gets armament. In this case Georgia may close the check point and in this case I would quite understand them.

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