Port reopens as Russia signals end to conflict

12 August 2008 12:28  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS news)--The Georgian port of Poti was understood to be partially operating again after it was closed on Monday amid security fears over the current conflict there, a shipping agent from Maersk Georgia Ltd said on Tuesday, though Russia has signalled the fighting is now over.

 

Russia had effectively shut down Georgia’s largest commercial port through a series of air strikes and its warships were also understood to be blocking vessels from entering the port, sources said.  

 

“The warships are around 9 miles (15km) outside the port and trade is obviously being disrupted. Our current predicament depends upon when the bombings are brought to a halt. They are still happening 200km from here [Poti] and as long as the violence continues the port will not be fully operational,” the shipping agent said.

 

However, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev recently announced his country’s military operations in Georgia were over, following the conflict which began last Thursday when Georgia launched an assault on the breakaway region of South Ossetia.

 

“The route between Poti and Tblisi remains open and it is a case of business as usual,” one trader said.

 

Georgia’s other main ports of Batumi and Supsa remained open.

By: Dan Horlock
44 20 8652 3214

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