YEREVAN. – New checkpoint in Armenia will allow a smoother crossing of border with Georgia, Mr Hoa Binh Adjemian, Head of Cooperation Section of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Armenia, told reporters Friday, at the opening ceremony of Bagratashen crossing point.

Inauguration was attended by the president of Armenia, Mr. Serzh Sargsyan, and the Prime Minister of Georgia, Mr. Giorgi Kvirikashvili, accompanied by top officials of both countries, members of the EU delegation to Armenia, and the regional officers of the European Investment Bank (chief donor of the project).

Bagratashen checkpoint is one of the two checkpoints on Georgian border, which were inaugurated today. The other is Gogavan, and the final one, Bavra (connecting north of Armenia with the Armenian-speaking Javakheti region of Georgia) is scheduled to open up before the end of 2016.

All these checkpoints are replacements of older ones at the same locations, and are to be equipped with modern devices for passport and luggage control of citizens, sanitary control of products of animal and vegetable origin, as well as for custom clearance and security systems. Upgrade of all the three checkpoints is made through the project, which totals 52.13 million euro, 90% of which is funded by the EU, through its various institutions.

But the Union is going one step further, Adjemian said. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has signed with Armenia a loan of 10.3 million euro, to complement the new checkpoint with a cross-border bridge from Bagratashen to Sadakhlo in Georgia.

The construction of what is referred to as the Friendship Bridge is expected to start in the 1st quarter of 2017 and to be completed in the summer or fall of 2018.

European institutions are assisting lifeline road construction both in Armenia (M1 (North-South highway) and M6 interstate roads) and Georgia (East-West highway).

“The brand new checkpoint, opening today, will be enhanced with our yet another ongoing project for Armenia, of 20 million euro. It is intended to ensure interoperability of all databases of the Armenian Government. This, in particular, will enable to provide single window public services at the customs”, Adjemian concluded.