Daily: Armenia explores ways to buy Batumi seaport in Georgia
A story in the Armenian daily 'Zhamanak' (Time) says Armenia is exploring all the available possibilities to buy the seaport in Georgia's Batumi, which its authorities put up for sale for $ 600 million.
"Various circles in Armenia are trying to organize fundraising for the purchase of the seaport to ensure unhindered transportation of goods to and from Armenia," the newspaper says.
According to its sources, the idea of creating a shareholder society is being discussed, which may attract also Armenian Diaspora businessmen.
"For the success, it is necessary that someone invests the starting amount, which is currently not available," the newspaper writes.
It should be noted that the 1958 UN Convention on the High Seas applies to the landlocked Armenia as well. It says that intracontinental states "should have free access to the sea" and "enjoy the freedom of the sea on equal terms with the coastal states."
According to the preamble of this Convention, a coastal state is obliged to provide freedom of transit through its territory to a neighboring landlocked country. -- 0--