Iranians May Turn to Azerbaijan for Cheap Fuel, Enter Our Territory - Hakobyan

“Which Azerbaijani vehicle will come to our side for customs clearance?” stated Vahé Hakobyan, a member of the “Armenia” faction, during a conversation with journalists in parliament. He emphasized that the installation of mirror-like Armenian customs checkpoints near Azerbaijani checkpoints on the Goris-Kapan road would be fictitious and illogical.

“The M2 highway on the Goris-Kapan route is currently closed, controlled by Azerbaijanis, who have built a gas station there. What customs checkpoint are we discussing that Azerbaijanis would come from their territory, enter onto our road, cross into Armenia, and get customs clearance here? How do you envision that? Although with this government, I do not exclude anything, that perhaps tomorrow Azerbaijani vehicles will come for customs clearance and continue their way to Georgia,” he raised concerns.

Hakobyan noted that the Armenian customs checkpoint being constructed in that area could range from a small kiosk costing 150,000 drams to a building costing 150 million drams; however, the fact remains that this cannot be considered an effective expense. “Since the current government already has its boundaries in mind and wants to establish customs points based on its logic, to claim that ‘look, our borders start or end here’,” he added.

Hakobyan believes that Azerbaijanis will sell fuel at a cheap price at the gas station built on the M2 highway. If the Armenian side does not prohibit Iranian drivers from entering the highway, the cheap fuel may be attractive for them. “We know that fuel in Iran is cheap and they store fuel in their hiding places and bring it with them, while our customs officers see and force them to dump it. In this case, Iranian drivers may turn that way to purchase fuel from Azerbaijan at a lower price,” he explained.

The M2 highway is attractive to Iranian drivers because it is less congested and wider, and the second allure is the cheap fuel offered by Azerbaijan. “If they pass through one customs checkpoint there, the added value is included in the overall customs charge, and that is sold to Armenia. Ultimately, it is the citizens of the Republic of Armenia who pay that customs clearance fee. After all, the Iranian citizen adds value. Alternative routes are heavily congested, even when there is no snow,” he stated.

Hakobyan pointed out that the Tatev-Agvani road is constantly experiencing traffic jams, especially when large trucks enter, causing all vehicles to stop for several hours in the bends. It takes 2-3 hours to pass that section of the road. He expressed that when the government changes and people who prioritize the country’s interests represent Armenia, it will be possible to free the roads and bring negotiations to a healthy arena. According to Hakobyan, today there are people ready to take on such responsibilities.