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OPENING OF ABKHAZIAN RAILWAY MEETS THE INTERESTS OF ALL SOUTH CAUCASIAN COUNTRIES
Gita Elibekyan
"Radiolur"
14:28 16.11.2012
Tbilisi
Exploitation of the Abkhazian railway meets the interests of the
all countries of the South Caucasus, some Georgian experts say. They
consider that this will have a positive influence on the economies
of those countries. The new authorities in Georgia have declared
recently about the willingness to restore the railway communication
with Russia interrupted 20 years ago.
"If we open our part of the railway, Abkhazia will have an
alternative," says Paata Zakareshvili, Georgia's State Minister for
Reintegration. "The railroad will serve all -Russia, Georgia, Armenia.
This will increase the geopolitical role of our country. The cargoes
will then be shipped not only from the east to the west, but also
from the north to the south."
"Surely, the operation of the railway will be positive for the
economies of Armenia and Georgia also as other countries of the
region. The volume of commodity turnover will increase," political
analyst Georgy Areshidze says. However, he advises the Georgian
authorities to be cautious and consider the issue primarily from the
point of view of national security.
As for the negative reaction of the Azerbaijani side, the expert says
it's understandable. "Azerbaijan fears that the Russian military
cargoes will reach Armenia this way. If the railway is really
re-launched, it will bring about tension in the Georgian-Azerbaijani
relations," Areshidze notes.
It's worth mentioning that in response to assessments of some
Azerbaijani political scientists, Paata Zakareshvili said "it's not
up to Azerbaijani political scientists to decide whether the rail
communication with Russian should be restored or not."
"No Georgian government will ever question the Georgian-Armenian
and Georgian-Azerbaijani relations, but it's not going to sacrifice
its interests to the benefit of other countries," the Minister for
Reintegration declared.
The railway was constructed during Tsarist times. The railway
communication was suspended in 1992-1993 after the Georgian-Abkhazian
conflict.
Gita Elibekyan
"Radiolur"
14:28 16.11.2012
Tbilisi
Exploitation of the Abkhazian railway meets the interests of the
all countries of the South Caucasus, some Georgian experts say. They
consider that this will have a positive influence on the economies
of those countries. The new authorities in Georgia have declared
recently about the willingness to restore the railway communication
with Russia interrupted 20 years ago.
"If we open our part of the railway, Abkhazia will have an
alternative," says Paata Zakareshvili, Georgia's State Minister for
Reintegration. "The railroad will serve all -Russia, Georgia, Armenia.
This will increase the geopolitical role of our country. The cargoes
will then be shipped not only from the east to the west, but also
from the north to the south."
"Surely, the operation of the railway will be positive for the
economies of Armenia and Georgia also as other countries of the
region. The volume of commodity turnover will increase," political
analyst Georgy Areshidze says. However, he advises the Georgian
authorities to be cautious and consider the issue primarily from the
point of view of national security.
As for the negative reaction of the Azerbaijani side, the expert says
it's understandable. "Azerbaijan fears that the Russian military
cargoes will reach Armenia this way. If the railway is really
re-launched, it will bring about tension in the Georgian-Azerbaijani
relations," Areshidze notes.
It's worth mentioning that in response to assessments of some
Azerbaijani political scientists, Paata Zakareshvili said "it's not
up to Azerbaijani political scientists to decide whether the rail
communication with Russian should be restored or not."
"No Georgian government will ever question the Georgian-Armenian
and Georgian-Azerbaijani relations, but it's not going to sacrifice
its interests to the benefit of other countries," the Minister for
Reintegration declared.
The railway was constructed during Tsarist times. The railway
communication was suspended in 1992-1993 after the Georgian-Abkhazian
conflict.