Armenian alcohol producers ask WTO intervention due to cargo delays at Georgian border, negotiations to be held in Armenia
YEREVAN, June 4. /ARKA/. More than a dozen Armenian alcohol producers have appealed to state and international structures with a request to urgently assess the tense situation with the transit of Armenian goods through the customs territory of Georgia, the press service of the Union of Producers and Entrepreneurs of Armenia reports.
Risk of losing markets for Armenian producers
“The Union of Producers and Entrepreneurs of Armenia has recently received numerous signals from companies, exporters and carriers of alcoholic beverages, expressing dissatisfaction and concern about the situation on the Armenian-Georgian border. In fact, the Georgian side is unreasonably hindering the transit of Armenian alcoholic beverages to third countries, without giving any clear explanations. This issue has become the subject of discontent and heated discussions,” the department said in a statement.
The appeal of Armenian companies engaged in the production of alcoholic beverages, in particular, states that for over a month, in clear violation of WTO rules and international transit transportation, Armenian vehicles transporting goods in transit to third countries through the territory of Georgia have been stopped and redirected to the Gezi terminal. There, customs seals are broken without any reason, samples are taken without the appropriate documents, and no explanation is provided for the multi-day delays in laboratory test results. As a result, exporters are not allowed to deliver goods to recipients in third countries. Dozens of loaded transit vehicles are currently being held at the Georgian Gezi terminal, some of which have been there for over a month. Thus, the Georgian side, in violation of accepted international trade criteria, causes significant material damage to Armenian producers, who are unable to fulfill their contractual obligations to a third party. There is a risk of losing existing markets and suspending further development of the sector. "We appeal to international organizations and our partners abroad to call on the Georgian government to end this unauthorized blockade and lift the restrictions that impede the transit of goods through its territory," the statement reads.
The statement was sent to the National Assembly of Armenia, the Ministries of Economy and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the UN, the Eurasian Development Bank, the World Trade Organization and the Russian Embassy in Armenia.
The joint statement was signed by Ararat Wine Factory, Shahnazaryan Wine and Brandy House, Alco Alliance, Van777, Aragats Wine and Brandy Factory, Arkon Trade, Abovyan Brandy Factory, Samcon, Proshyan Brandy Factory and National Alco.
The head of the Armenian Ministry of Economy is determined
The Minister of Economy of Armenia Gevorg Papoyan told journalists the day before that the Minister of Agriculture will arrive in Armenia on June 6 with a preliminary package of decisions.
"We will discuss this issue and, I hope, we will have to come to some kind of decision, because, nevertheless, the situation we have is very dangerous for our business, entrepreneurs, winegrowers, cognac producers," he said.
Papoyan added that he intends to organize meetings in various formats during the Georgian minister's visit. "We will not leave the room until a solution is found," he said.
Answering the question about what exactly the problem is on the Georgian side, the minister said that at different times, various problems have arisen with certain entrepreneurs. At the same time, he preferred not to go into details, fearing that this would complicate the negotiations on June 6, and also refrained from talking about whether the problem has a political subtext.
About the problem
Spontaneous laboratory checks of dozens of trucks from Armenia exporting alcoholic beverages to Russia or the Baltic countries through the Upper Lars checkpoint have been reported for about 2 months now. Due to inspection delays, Armenian exporters suffer financial losses. Armenian Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan stated earlier that he had discussed this issue with Georgian officials in Armenia, and it is necessary to understand the reasons and find an institutional solution.
A group of Armenian alcohol producers periodically hold protests in front of the Georgian embassy in Yerevan. -0-
