Armenian authorities are shifting blame to the “previous authorities” regarding problems at the Upper Lars checkpoint, stating that these issues should have been resolved 15 years ago. Tadevos Avetisyan, spokesperson for the ruling Republican Party, expressed this during a press conference on November 29. Construction work has already begun on the border crossing approaches, and the Armenian border authorities have reached an agreement with their Georgian counterparts after a year of full capacity work, hoping to benefit from this process.

Avetisyan raised concerns about the reconfiguration of trade relations, as products intended for the Russian market may not have a demand in Europe. He emphasized the need to actively address this distant problem instead of just cultivating Armenian-Russian relations. Avetisyan also criticized the government’s decision to allow products intended for export to be sold on the domestic market, considering the country’s $6 billion debt and the unrealistic additional demand it poses.

The authorities’ efforts in border construction have resulted in a significant increase in Russian-Armenian trade relations amidst the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict. The impact of these developments on export remains uncertain. However, the Minister of Economy believes it can bring benefits, with entrepreneurs calculating the potential outcomes.

Source: News from Armenia – NEWS.am