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YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan departed for Tavush province on a working visit today, to take part in the official opening ceremony of the newly constructed Bagratashen border checkpoint and review the preparatory works of the Armenian-Georgian “Friendship Bridge” construction.
Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili was also present at the ceremony, along with his delegation.
Minister of Transportation, Communication and IT Vahan Martirosyan, Minister of Economic Development and Investments Suren Karayan, Deputy Foreign Ministers Shavarsh Kocharyan and Ashot Hovakimyan, Chairman of the State Revenue Committee Vardan Harutyunyan, Head of the Cooperation Section of the EU delegation to Armenia Hoa-Binh Adjemian, UN Resident Coordinator, UNDP Resident Representative Bradley Busetto, Head of the regional representation of the European Investment BankSebastien Husson De Sampigny, border administrating state agencies and representatives of international organizations and the diplomatic corps attended the event.
The modernization process of Armenia’s border checkpoints was launched back in 2010 in accordance to the President’s instruction on establishing a strategy on border administration and security, followed by the approval of 2011-2015 program on initiating the process. Under the program, modernization process was planned in the following three priority checkpoints – Bagratashen, Bavra and Gogavan.
The Government and the UNDP signed the “Modernization of Armenian border’s checkpoints Bagratashen, Bavra and Gogavan” project in 2012.
The deadline for modernization works was defined by two stages – planning to commission the Bagratashen and Gogavan checkpoints in the first stage, and Bavra in the second.
Works are still proceeding in the Bavra checkpoint. First Deputy Chairman of the State Revenue Committee Samvel Avetikyan briefed the President via live video call from Gogavan, stating that the Gogavan checkpoint is already commissioned and in use. All border services, customs and border control functions are carried out according to procedures.
President Sargsyan highlighted the proper use of the checkpoints after the technical launch, the implementation of quality modern standard service. The President stressed that the opinion about the country starts from border checkpoints.
The overall budget of the program is 52.13 million Euros. The goal of the program is to contribute to the free movement of people and goods through the borders, at the same time maintaining border security, improve both bilateral and regional cooperation, modernize Bagratashen, Bavra and Gogavan checkpoints, in accordance to demands defined by the Armenian legislation, international standards and principles.
It is planned that the modernization of state border checkpoints will also contribute to the living standards of the local population, taking into account that jobs were created in the process.
After the official opening ceremony of the newly built Bagratashen border checkpoint, President Sargsyan and Georgia’s PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili visited the designated area for construction of the Armenian-Georgian “Friendship Bridge”, reviewed the preparatory works of construction. Minister of Transportation, Communication and IT of Armenia Vahan Martirosyan and Georgia’s Deputy Minister of Economy and Stable Development Gennady Arveladze briefed on the works.
The bridge, located over the Debed river in the territory of the Sadakhlo-Bagratashen checkpoint of the Armenian-Georgian border, was built back in 1960s and cannot be used in its current condition. Therefore, a decision was made to construct a modern bridge corresponding to international standards. An agreement was signed between the governments of Armenia and Georgia, which was initiated on 17.06.2015.
The construction of the bridge is carried out within the framework of the modernization project of Armenia’s northern corridor, with the 10.3 million Euro loan agreement signed between Armenia and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. A joint Armenian-Georgian intergovernmental commission is coordinating the works.
The construction of the bridge will start in 2017, when the international tenders for supervision consultants and contractors will be summarized. The tenders were announced with joint efforts of Armenia and Georgia, as well as through the EBRD’s e-procurement platform, which is an unprecedented process in the cooperation of the two countries.
It is planned that the bridge will facilitate the service quality of cargo and passenger transportation of the two countries, will provide safe and convenient movement through the checkpoint.
It will also facilitate trade between Georgia, Russia and European countries.