One of the European commissioners simply said that their market is saturated and so are other markets

Armenian producers continue to bear the negative consequences of restrictions on entering the Russian market.

During the last 3 months, producers of flowers, fruits and vegetables, and fish products have warned that they are suffering losses of millions, they are under loans and debts, because Russia has limited the entry of Armenian products to its market, as a result of which Armenian products remain in place, are not sold and do not go to other markets, or in small quantities to several European countries.

Even before the elections, during the pre-election campaign, Nikol Pashinyan announced that “there is no problem, after the elections he will go to Moscow and solve the issues”. Of course, he went to Moscow after the elections, but the problem was not solved, after that Russia also limited the import of Armenian dairy products to the Russian market.

Vazgen Safaryan, President of the Union of Domestic Product Producers in words, it is obvious that the Armenian producer is facing a difficult problem today.

“At least in this situation, they should try to look for alternative markets, but our previous markets have been formed for years, and the exporters did not have any problems. They were able to sell their product through previous connections. For this reason, the situation requires new approaches to search for a new market. It will not be so easy to sell our product, which is not recognized by them, on the European market. For all this, it takes a long time to recognize, evaluate, take into account qualitative features, etc.

We sold 2.5 billion dollars worth of agricultural products annually on the Russian market, now these restrictions have naturally put our producer in front of serious difficulties.” of 168.am said Vazgen Safaryan in a conversation with

According to our interlocutor, if the state wants to search and find alternative markets, it should first of all pay a lot of attention to the quality of its products, including containers, packaging, because in the European market they pay a lot of attention to how it is packaged, in what container it was shipped from another country, etc.

“I do not rule out that Armenian products will go to the Russian market after some time. As far as I am informed, “Rosselkhoznadzor” came and carried out inspections in some institutions, there were quite positive evaluations. Let’s see how things will develop: both the political leadership should be able to solve these problems that have arisen, and the phytosanitary and quality characteristics and properties should meet the standards.

Maybe our products had these problems before, but the Russian side turned a blind eye to them or did not value them, and the trade turnover took place. Now the Russian Federation clearly says: “if you go to the EU, your problems are like this”, Russia says: either here or there. Now our Government should be able to find the way that leads to the benefit of our economy. Politics is politics, but in this case we need to get out of our economic problems,” added Vazgen Safaryan.

According to his observation, Armenia’s economy should dictate the country’s foreign policy direction. If they have to go to Europe and it is not known what product, in what quantity they can sell there, it will not be the right decision.

Recalling the statement of the Prime Minister of Georgia addressed to the United States, Vazgen Safaryan said that the Prime Minister of Georgia said that he knows the place of his trade partners well, they also know the place of Georgia well, and the United States does not know their place.

“Even without Armenian products, the European market is self-sufficient, Greece, Spain and other countries flooded the European market with their products. Today, Europe also has a problem to protect its market, after all, they should protect their market first, and then sell the products of other countries.

It is difficult to say that they can accept us with open arms, because they realize the interests of their producers first. One of the European commissioners, who is engaged in trade, simply said that their market is saturated and it is difficult to sell products from other markets,” emphasized Vazgen Safaryan.

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