Armenia and Russia Did Their Best for Kavkaz-Poti Train-Ferry Functioning

PanARMENIAN.Net - «Armenia is a participant of the North-South corridor and we devoted much time to develop the transport corridor, specifically its Iranian party, which is not used enough in my opinion,» stated Co-Chair of the Armenian-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission for Economic Cooperation, Russian Minister of Transport Igor Levitin during a briefing in Yerevan today. The Commission meeting discussed various transport directions that may pass through Armenia, but avoid doing it "due to political considerations," he reported. "Not using these directions is not right in my opinion. We discussed it as well," he reported.



As of resumption of communication via the Abkhaz part of the Georgian railway, Levitin noted an act on examination of the Abkhaz segment with participation of Russia, Georgia and Abkhazia will be signed in October. The sitting of the Russian-Georgian Inter-Governmental Commission will be held in Tbilisi next week, he reported. «A goal of our visit to Tbilisi is to provide for Georgian party confirming its agreement to restore traffic through the Abkhaz part,» he stated. In Levitin's words, some 2 years may be necessary for restoration of the part of the railway and Russia, Georgia and Armenia still have «strength and means to restore it.»



Touching upon the question of Kavkaz-Poti train ferry passage and answering a question on prospects of its development, Mr. Levitin stated, «the Ministries of Transport of Russia and Armenia should form conditions for attraction of rolling stock and additional load for transit transportation.» «Up to now that states have done everything for the functioning of the passage. It should be done by the business, thus not everything depends on Armenia and Russia,» he explained. Georgia is a participants of this transport direction, he also remarked. «We have questions on the tariffs to be discussed in Georgia,» however, the states have done their best for the functioning of the passage and it's the business' turn, Levitin concluded.