ARMENIA LOOKING FOR PROFIT FROM RUSSIAN WINE BAN

Prime News Agency, Georgia
April 13 2006

Tbilisi. April 13 (Prime-News) – Armenian wine can replace Georgian
wine in the Russian market, Regnum says, as quoting Avak Arutunian,
Chairman of Wine Producers Association of Armenia.

According to him, the ban imposed on import of Georgian and Moldovan
wines to Russia is profitable for Armenia, as it will be able to fill
the gap.

“The government of Armenia must start promotion of wine exporters
through long term and preferential credits. That money will be
necessary for promotion campaign in Russia and transportation of
wines. If the government of Armenia hesitates, tomorrow it may be
late”, Avak Arutunian says.

According to him, Georgian wine is the immediate rival for Armenian
one. Armenian wine has never been cheep because of transportation
expenditures, but now Armenian wine may compete with Georgian, he said.

33 wine enterprises operated and produced 2,5 m litres of wine in 2005,
Avak Arutunian said.

The similar statements were made by the representatives of the
government of Tajikistan a bit earlier. But, according to the Committee
of Foreign Affairs of the Parliament of Georgia the Georgian party
was submitted an official letter by Tajikistan providing for apology
for the statement made with regard to replacement of Georgian wines
with Tajik goods.