OUVRAGE : A.S. Gevorgyan, Landlocked States. Economic and Transit Problems, International Law and the Case of Armenia

Hans-Jürgen ZAHORKA

Not all countries are blessed with the advantage of having access to sea. These countries constitute a singular sub grouping called landlocked states. Geographical factor is the main drawback in the development process and trade competitiveness of these countries.

Landlocked countries are the ones not having any seacoast as opposed to other geographically disadvantaged states. They are also among the most underperforming countries in the world measured by various economic dimensions. There is empirical evidence that landlockedness puts repercussions on the socio-economic development of these countries; about 15% of the states of the world are developing landlocked states. Thus, this essay sets out to examine the desperate plight of landlocked states caused by a geographic handicap.

It has to be taken into account that being landlocked means to have limited and more costly access to the world market. Furthermore, the plight of a landlocked state is very much dependent on the location and it is hardly surprising that there is no single high-income landlocked country outside of Europe.

Additionally, the Republic of Armenia, being a landlocked state, not only can’t avoid the susceptibility and obstacles brought by the absence of access to sea, but also suffers more than other landlocked countries due to the lack of natural resources and border blockages. So, in this regard and as an example for other states, this issue is a significant one for Armenia that demands special study. The conclusions the author compiles are worth to be considered.

Anna S. Gevorgyan, Yerevan/Armenia, holds a B.A. degree from Yerevan State University (International Relations and Diplomacy, 2008) and a M.A. from American University of Armenia (School of Political Science and International Affairs/specialization in International Law, 2011.

Since Summer 2012 as a Specialist for International Law with GIZ Armenia – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, after having been Legal Analyst for a USAID Project on the legal impact of the absence of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey, and also as an Assistant to Election Analysts for the Parliamentary Elections of May 6, 2012, in Armenia (OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission).She had previously worked with several NGOs and UNHCR. Fluent in Armenian, Russian, English and Arabic, and advanced knowledge in French and German.

This study was submitted for a Master degree in Political Science and International Affairs under the instruction of her lecturer and supervisor, Vigen Sargsyan, who is in the meantime the Chief of Staff to the President of the Republic of Armenia, and to the confirmation of Dr. Lucig H. Danielyan, Dean, Faculty of Political Science and International Relations.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction

2. The Conception of Landlocked States

3. Historical Characteristics

4. Landlocked Countries – Challenged By Geography

5. Research Questions and Hypothesis

6. Methodology

7. The Theoretical Base

8. The Principle of Freedom of the High Seas and Right of Access as an International Servitude

9. International Conventions on Freedom of Transit

10. Ensuring Access through National or Most Favored Nation (MFN) Treatment

11. Flag of Convenience Approach

12. Soft Law Mechanisms

13. The Burden of Landlockedness

14. Measuring Transport Costs: CIF/FOB Margins

15. Economic and Developmental Challenges

16. Foreign Direct Investment

17. The Logistics Performance of Landlocked Developing Countries

18. Assessing the Economic Value of Time for LLS

19. Social and Economic Performance

20. Economic Development of LLSs

21. Armenia: The Landlocked Country Transit Issues

22. Trade Policies and Market Access

23. Transportation Costs for the ROA

24. Conclusions and Recommendations

Anna S. GEVORGYAN, Landlocked States. Economic and Transit Problems, International Law and the Case of Armenia, Rangendingen, Libertas, 2013 (52 pp.)

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Libertas Paper 75, 52 pages, January 2013, ISBN 978-3-937642-33-8 (e-book pdf); 978-3-937642-34-5 (e-book kindle); both 5,99€; ISBN 978-3-937642-32-1 (paper edition), 15€