TRANSPORTATION OF FREIGHT TO BE REGULATED IN THREE DAYS
Gevorg Haroutyunyan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
27 Aug 2008
Armenia

When will the Georgian railway start operating again? How long will it
take the freight envisaged for Armenia to reach its destination? What
measures are being undertaken for finding a way out of this situation?

GAGIK MARTIROSYAN, Advisor to the Prime Minister and Secretary of
the operation headquarter, answers the questions of "Hayots Ashkharh".

"Mr. Martirosyan, do the ports of Poti and Batumi and the overland
roads on the territory of Georgia operate? When is it possible for
the freight delivered to Armenia to reach its destination?"

"It is already a whole day that the roads coming to Armenia both
from the ports of Poti and Batumi as well as the neighboring state
of Iran are in an absolutely normal condition and operate at full
capacity. The freighters are received and unloaded in the ports in
the usual working rhythm.

At the moment, there are already twenty-five wagons of wheat
transported to Armenia by the railroad passing via the territory of
Georgia. Currently, 283 wagons loaded with various goods are about to
leave for Armenia. Of them, 148 wagons are loaded with wheat and 123
wagons are loaded with industrial and other products as well as petrol.

There are a number of other products imported by private entrepreneurs,
organizat ions and companies to be transported to Armenia from the
port of Batumi. And they are to be realized and consumed in our
country. Among them, there are ships embarked with fuel as well as
petrol. The entire highway network transporting freight from the
ports operates at full capacity, and the motorcades continue coming
to Armenia via Bavra, Sadakhlo and other roads.

There are certain interruptions because of the wrecked bridge. But the
trains leaving Batumi for Poti and vice versa pass via that road. There
are certain accumulations in this section of the road. However,
as shown by the train schedule, such accumulations will be overcome
in just a couple of days. In any case, all the routes used for the
transportation of goods will operate at full capacity till August
27, 10 a.m. And even if the volumes of freight transportation do
not exceed the previous rates, they will at least be restored to a
normal condition.

Freight and various other goods are imported to Armenia from the
Islamic Republic of Iran as well. Here, there are goods imported
both by private importers and the state. They mainly include power
generating substances, diesel fuel, food products, flour and industrial
products. This route has operated fully and normally in all this
period although the volumes of the transportation have significantly
increased for well-known reasons."

"Is it possible for us to have a lack of food product s?"

"I would like to underline that there is no scarcity of foods and
industrial products in Armenia and there won’t be any. Neither will
there be any tension in that connection.

There was a scarcity of petrol not because of the lack of fuel but
because of the railroad being overloaded to a certain degree. Such
tension may be maintained for a couple of more days. I assure you
that there is absolutely no scarcity of foods, bread, sugar, flour,
vegetable oil and other products of primary importance, and there
can’t be any.

If there are no artificial problems related to the gas pipeline, there
will be no concerns for us in future either. Especially considering
that we have gas reserves that will last us at least one month,
and this is enough for meeting all the economic needs and everyday
necessities. I say boldly and unhesitatingly that we will face no
difficulty, and the fears among the population will dissipate in just
a couple of days."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress