News - Opposition MP: 70 Armenia trucks returning from Upper Lars border checkpoint, hundreds of others awaiting response

Armenian opposition MP Garnik Danielyan informs that he contacted Vahan Hakobyan, customs attaché of Armenia at the Upper Lars checkpoint on the Georgian-Russian border, and Hakobyan had said that according to the latest information, 70 Armenian trucks were returning to Armenia from Upper Lars, and hundreds of others were waiting for an answer. "The returning trucks are loaded with fish, fruits, vegetables, dried fruits, flowers. I found out that the Russian side has repeatedly petitioned to the Armenian side with writings, recording that there are a number of shortcomings, inconsistencies, and that it is necessary to eliminate them urgently. Violations were found especially during the delivery of vegetable products. In 2023, Rosselkhoznadzor [the phytosanitary inspection agency of Russia] discovered 72 cases of detection of quarantine pests in flowers and fruits and vegetables exported from Armenia. According to their interpretation, the Armenian side was not consistent in eliminating the deficiencies, as a result of which phytosanitary inspection was strengthened and such a situation was created. Negotiations [in this regard] between the FSIB [(Food Safety Inspection Body)], the Ministry of Economy [of Armenia], and Rosselkhoznadzor ended a little while ago. I contacted the head of the FSIB, trying to find out what was decided as a result of the negotiations. To put it briefly, the discussions did not produce their results, and sadly, we cannot talk about positive changes. The Russian side continues to insist that the violations are not being eliminated [by Armenia], while the Armenian side insinuates that the problem is in another domain. Even if the problem is not only in the violations recorded as a result of phytosanitary inspection, but there is a biased approach, even in this case the Armenian side should solve the problem by using all the tools. The businessmen [of Armenia] should not suffer losses of thousands of dollars as a result of the inaction of the relevant [Armenian state] bodies,. I repeat, even if the problem is political, this does not mean that nothing should be done. More substantive discussions on the issue will begin next week. Also, let me note that I asked the head of the FSIB for information on how many [respective] businesses the Armenian side provided phytosanitary compliance papers," Danielyan added on Facebook.