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RESUMPTION OF RAILWAY COMMUNICATION BETWEEN RUSSIA AND ARMENIA WAS "VERY IMPORTANT AND DESIRABLE", SCR GENERAL DIRECTOR THINKS
Thursday 19 December 2013 16:07
Photo: http://common.regnum.ru
General Director of South Caucasus Railway (SCR) Victor Rebets
Yerevan /Mediamax/. General Director of South Caucasus Railway
(SCR) Victor Rebets said today that the resumption of the railway
communication between Russia and Armenia was very "important and
desirable for us".
Answering Mediamax's question, Victor Rebets said that the projects
implemented by the SCR are also aimed at creating a reserve of
reliability and security of communication in case this railway
sector opens.
"We have exactly the same response to the construction works of the
railway sector to Iran", said Victor Rebets.
Mediamax recalls that opening of Abkhazian-Georgian sector of
former Transcaucasia railway is meant here. In January 2013,
President of Abkhazia Alexander Ankvab called the prospect of
restoration of the railway communication "vague". He stated that
"multimillion investments" are needed for rehabilitation of the
railway communication. According to him, "the specialists should
calculate what the Abkhazian side will benefit from it, whether or
not it's worthy. And multimillion investments are needed for fully
operating railway".
Former Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili said in Yerevan
on January 17 that the resumption of the railway communication
on the territory of Abkhazia is directly linked to settlement
of Georgian-Russian relations. He noted that the Georgian side is
interested in earliest restoration of the operation of the Abkhazian
sector of the railway.
In his turn, former President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili said
responding to the statement that the resumption of the railway
communication through Abkhazia is in Russia's interests and raising
this issue without the context of de-occupation "is a criminal,
antistate and anti-Georgian" act. According to him, after the launch of
Baku-Akhalkalaki-Kars new railway line which will link Azerbaijan with
Turkey through Georgia, the latter won't need to open communication
through Abkhazia.
"Naturally, we want good relations with Armenia, we did much to pass
Armenian cargo", he stated adding that Upper Lars checkpoint was
opened to this end.
"Armenia's isolation has never been in Georgia's interests and we have
never supported it. But good relations with Armenia is one thing and
fulfilling strategic plans of an occupant is quite a different one",
said Saakashvili.
Deputy Foreign Minister of Abkhazia Irakly Khintba noted in August 2013
that the Abkhazian side didn't have any calculations to unequivocally
state the commercial appropriateness of the project for resumption
of railway communication between Armenia and Russia.
"One thing I can say for sure: if there is a decision on operation
of the railway road from Russia to Armenia some time, no issues
of political and legal jurisdiction of the Abkhazian sector of the
railway can't be speculated upon. It's Abkhazian railway, it's owned
by our state and there can be no other position", said Irakly Khintba.
As of the research results published by International Alert and
South Caucasus Regional Research Group on November 20, the opening
of Sochi-Sukhumi-Tbilisi-Yerevan railway sector is only profitable
for Armenia now.
According to the same research, resumption of direct railway link
between Armenia and Russia may have a tangible impact on Armenia
both in mid- and long-term prospect. At the same time, resumption of
the communication won't yield considerable gains for the Georgian
and Abkhazian sides as the funds allocated to reconstruction and
development will be incomparably higher.
- See more at:
http://www.mediamax.am/en/news/region/8561/#sthash.TwZy72fB.dpuf
Thursday 19 December 2013 16:07
Photo: http://common.regnum.ru
General Director of South Caucasus Railway (SCR) Victor Rebets
Yerevan /Mediamax/. General Director of South Caucasus Railway
(SCR) Victor Rebets said today that the resumption of the railway
communication between Russia and Armenia was very "important and
desirable for us".
Answering Mediamax's question, Victor Rebets said that the projects
implemented by the SCR are also aimed at creating a reserve of
reliability and security of communication in case this railway
sector opens.
"We have exactly the same response to the construction works of the
railway sector to Iran", said Victor Rebets.
Mediamax recalls that opening of Abkhazian-Georgian sector of
former Transcaucasia railway is meant here. In January 2013,
President of Abkhazia Alexander Ankvab called the prospect of
restoration of the railway communication "vague". He stated that
"multimillion investments" are needed for rehabilitation of the
railway communication. According to him, "the specialists should
calculate what the Abkhazian side will benefit from it, whether or
not it's worthy. And multimillion investments are needed for fully
operating railway".
Former Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili said in Yerevan
on January 17 that the resumption of the railway communication
on the territory of Abkhazia is directly linked to settlement
of Georgian-Russian relations. He noted that the Georgian side is
interested in earliest restoration of the operation of the Abkhazian
sector of the railway.
In his turn, former President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili said
responding to the statement that the resumption of the railway
communication through Abkhazia is in Russia's interests and raising
this issue without the context of de-occupation "is a criminal,
antistate and anti-Georgian" act. According to him, after the launch of
Baku-Akhalkalaki-Kars new railway line which will link Azerbaijan with
Turkey through Georgia, the latter won't need to open communication
through Abkhazia.
"Naturally, we want good relations with Armenia, we did much to pass
Armenian cargo", he stated adding that Upper Lars checkpoint was
opened to this end.
"Armenia's isolation has never been in Georgia's interests and we have
never supported it. But good relations with Armenia is one thing and
fulfilling strategic plans of an occupant is quite a different one",
said Saakashvili.
Deputy Foreign Minister of Abkhazia Irakly Khintba noted in August 2013
that the Abkhazian side didn't have any calculations to unequivocally
state the commercial appropriateness of the project for resumption
of railway communication between Armenia and Russia.
"One thing I can say for sure: if there is a decision on operation
of the railway road from Russia to Armenia some time, no issues
of political and legal jurisdiction of the Abkhazian sector of the
railway can't be speculated upon. It's Abkhazian railway, it's owned
by our state and there can be no other position", said Irakly Khintba.
As of the research results published by International Alert and
South Caucasus Regional Research Group on November 20, the opening
of Sochi-Sukhumi-Tbilisi-Yerevan railway sector is only profitable
for Armenia now.
According to the same research, resumption of direct railway link
between Armenia and Russia may have a tangible impact on Armenia
both in mid- and long-term prospect. At the same time, resumption of
the communication won't yield considerable gains for the Georgian
and Abkhazian sides as the funds allocated to reconstruction and
development will be incomparably higher.
- See more at:
http://www.mediamax.am/en/news/region/8561/#sthash.TwZy72fB.dpuf