Armenia backs Georgia-Russia railway communication relaunch: President

PanARMENIAN.Net - President Serzh Sargsyan stated that Armenia supports restoration of direct railway communication between Georgia and Russia via Abkhazia, however, no serious discussions have been held on the subject, NewsGeorgia reported.

“No serious discussions on the issue were initiated, but we want the railway to start functioning. It’s of vital importance to us,” Sargsyan said in an interview with Rustavi-2 Georgian Broadcasting Company.

He further noted that the opening of the railway depends not only on Armenia and Russia, but on other sides as well, “so we are actively working on the issue”.

Earlier, Georgia’s State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality of Georgia Paata Zakareishvili said that the opening of the rail link through Abkhazia has not been discussed in detail, although in foreseeable future, the issue may be considered by Georgian and Russian officials.

Sargsyan also held talks with the Georgian leadership in Tbilisi on June 18 to discuss consequences as Yerevan prepares for joining Russian-led economic bloc and Tbilisi plans to sign free trade treaty with the EU next week, Civil.ge reported.

After the talks both the Georgian and Armenian officials were saying that the two countries should work closely in order to avoid setbacks in bilateral trade and economic cooperation and to turn “different paths” chosen by the two countries into new opportunity for Georgian and Armenian businesses.