Minister of Economy explains delays in launch of ferry service

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian government is doing everything it can do launch the ferry connection before winter in order to reduce the overload at the Lars checkpoint, Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan told ARMENPRESS when asked on the reasons of the delay.

The government was initially planning to launch the ferry connection in August.

The project concerns the launch of an Armenian ferry boat service for cargo shipment from Georgia’s Port of Poti in the Black Sea to Russia’s Port Kavkaz in Kerch Strait.

“The mechanism proposed by the Port of Poti did not allow us to be able to have regular connection. The port was reserving the right to stop and search any cargo for any duration. Now, nevertheless, negotiations are underway for us to be able to have a clear, planned processes under restricted durations, to know that after receiving the manifest the port will release or not release it in very brief and known period of time,” Kerobyan said.

He said now there are many sanctions and avoiding such sanctions requires very difficult work.

“We met with our EU colleagues last week in this regard. I will meet my Georgian counterpart soon and we will try to finish this work very soon, because winter is approaching and we really need this,” the minister said.

Armenia is now negotiating with the Port of Poti, the port’s owner, the government of Georgia and the EU over the matter.