ARMENIA CAN START EXPORTING EXCISABLE CARGOES THROUGH RUSSIAN PORT KAVKAZ THIS YEAR

ARKA
Jan 20, 2010

YEREVAN, January 20. /ARKA/. Armenia can start exporting excisable
cargoes through Russian port Kavkaz this year, Alexander Zaytsev,
Russia’s trade representative in Armenia, said Wednesday in Novosti
International Press Center.

In February 2008, when the then Russian prime minister, Victor Zubkov,
visited Armenia, customs agencies were instructed to carry out scrutiny
to reveal illegal shipment of excisable spirits, mainly brandy.

Yet in March 2009, Armenian and Russian state customs committees
signed a protocol simplifying customs procedures and permitting
exporters to shipping their excisable cargoes through port Kavkaz.

Zaytsev said that the matter has long been under negotiation and is
settled now – Russian government has already included Kavkaz in the
list of ports, through which excised goods can be shipped.

Structural and organizational issues are now being discussed in
the port.

"I think excisable goods will start passing through this port already
in 2010," Zaytsev said.

Armenian cargoes are mainly shipped by Ukrferry shipping company’s
ferries serving Ilichevsk-Poti-Batumi route and vessels of
Poti-Caucasus ferry line run by Swiss Reserve Capital Corporation.

Ferries carry mainly grain and foods from Russia to Armenia and raw
materials from Armenia to Russia.