ArmInfo.There is one last and the most difficult step remaining to opent he new transit corridor through Georgia. At that, not only Georgia and Russia are interested in the implementation of the 2001 Agreement, but also Armenia, Grigori Karasin, Russian Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister states.
The Agreement between Russian Federation and Georgia on main principles of customs administration and trade monitoring dated November 9, 2011 mentions the transit through territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia within the participation of foreign mediators, who will control the cargo flows. The Prague meeting of Karasin and Georgian prime Minister's Special Representative finished with a decision to rehabilitate the Agreement On Trade Corridors of 2011. Particularly, Karasin stated to Commersant weekly, that there is an essential progress in the practical aspect. According to him, parties decided to discuss those issues which could be solved without crossing the "red lines" - Abkhazia and South Ossetia statuses, as well as Russian troops presence there.
This approach will allow parties to avoid the painful issue of customs registration of cargo at the border, as well as to launch vehicle road through Southern Ossetia, which is extremely important for Armenia, because the road leading to Upper Lars is being often closed due to weather conditions.
According to Krasin, the issue relates to launching three corridors. One of those begins nearby Sochi, and,going through Abkhazia, finishes at Zughdidi. The second starts at Nar village in North Ossetia and finishes in Gori, and the third is located near the Kazbegi- Uper lars Checkpoints. According to agreements between Moscow and Tbilisi, the operation functions will be implemented by the SGS Company of Switcherland, which is occupied in delivering inspection and certification services.