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SPECULATION OVER THE REOPENING OF RAILWAYS IN ABKHAZIA
The Messenger, Georgia
Sept 10 2013
By Messenger Staff
Tuesday, September 10
On September 6, Secretary of Armenia's National Security Council,
Artur Baghdasaryan, in his interview with Novosti Armenia (News
Armenia), stated that Russia, Georgia and Abkhazia have agreed to
reopen the Abkhazian section of the railway connecting Georgia with
Russia. "This is a process and we should understand that both sides
of the conflict exist, but there exists the political goodwill to
open this segment of the railway," stated Baghdasaryan.
According to him, this issue is strategically important for Armenia's
economy and it was discussed during the meeting between the presidents
of Armenia and Russia on September 3 in Moscow.
The issue is really crucial for Armenia. It has been discussed many
times on different levels. However, it has been Georgia that has
refrained from providing the push on this issue by putting forth
certain preliminary conditions.
Armenia and Russia are strategic partners. Moscow is the guarantor
of Armenia's safety and security. It has taken commitment to protect
Armenia in the case of any military confrontation, but these two
countries do not have a common border and thus - land connections. The
only possibility for ensuring such connection is via Georgia. There
is only one road - the Georgian military road, which runs through the
Larsi checkpoint and enables Russian and Armenian cargo circulation.
There is also the possibility to transport goods between Armenia and
Russia via the Georgian Black Sea port of Poti. However, both these
ways are complicated; they take much time and extra expenses. So,
of course Armenia is interested in having a railway connection with
Russia so that the goods could be transported by the railways between
the two countries on a regular basis.
As soon as Baghdasaryan had aired his statement, the Georgian
political establishment, analysts and the media began discussing this
issue. Tbilisi denied Baghdasaryan's allegations stating that the
Georgian government had expressed interest towards this issue and even
today it is ready to discuss the initiative. However, it does not mean
that any decision has been made yet, the government's statement reads.
In fact, no official decisions have been made whatsoever, the Georgian
government has stated.
The Georgian Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Relations with Russia,
Zurab Abashidze, who conducts bilateral negotiations with the Russian
Deputy Foreign Minister, Grigory Karasin, said "We are not discussing
the issue of opening the railways passing through Abkhazia with the
Russian side."
Abashidze said this topic has not been discussed with Mr. Karasin at
all. "But if there is an initiative from the Russian side, we are ready
to listen. However, if the railway is restored it would be on the basis
of protecting Georgia's territorial integrity," Abashidze explained.
Commenting on the issue, Ivanishvili said that it is not only a
simple economic question. The first factor that hinders reopening
of the railway is Russia's recognition of the independence of the
separatist regimes.
Georgia's former leadership form the United National Movement (UNM)
thinks that this is not in the interest of Georgia to reopen the
railway because the opening of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway is
underway and carries strategic importance for the country.
Some analysts express their concern over the issue connecting
Baghdasaryan's statement with Armenia's decision to join the Eurasian
Union and its customs treaty. The analysts suspect that Yerevan will
probably join this agreement and in return Moscow promises to regulate
the railway issue with Georgia.
Unfortunately, Georgia knows very well how Russia can regulate
relations with its neighbors.
http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/2943_september_10_2013/2943_edit.html
The Messenger, Georgia
Sept 10 2013
By Messenger Staff
Tuesday, September 10
On September 6, Secretary of Armenia's National Security Council,
Artur Baghdasaryan, in his interview with Novosti Armenia (News
Armenia), stated that Russia, Georgia and Abkhazia have agreed to
reopen the Abkhazian section of the railway connecting Georgia with
Russia. "This is a process and we should understand that both sides
of the conflict exist, but there exists the political goodwill to
open this segment of the railway," stated Baghdasaryan.
According to him, this issue is strategically important for Armenia's
economy and it was discussed during the meeting between the presidents
of Armenia and Russia on September 3 in Moscow.
The issue is really crucial for Armenia. It has been discussed many
times on different levels. However, it has been Georgia that has
refrained from providing the push on this issue by putting forth
certain preliminary conditions.
Armenia and Russia are strategic partners. Moscow is the guarantor
of Armenia's safety and security. It has taken commitment to protect
Armenia in the case of any military confrontation, but these two
countries do not have a common border and thus - land connections. The
only possibility for ensuring such connection is via Georgia. There
is only one road - the Georgian military road, which runs through the
Larsi checkpoint and enables Russian and Armenian cargo circulation.
There is also the possibility to transport goods between Armenia and
Russia via the Georgian Black Sea port of Poti. However, both these
ways are complicated; they take much time and extra expenses. So,
of course Armenia is interested in having a railway connection with
Russia so that the goods could be transported by the railways between
the two countries on a regular basis.
As soon as Baghdasaryan had aired his statement, the Georgian
political establishment, analysts and the media began discussing this
issue. Tbilisi denied Baghdasaryan's allegations stating that the
Georgian government had expressed interest towards this issue and even
today it is ready to discuss the initiative. However, it does not mean
that any decision has been made yet, the government's statement reads.
In fact, no official decisions have been made whatsoever, the Georgian
government has stated.
The Georgian Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Relations with Russia,
Zurab Abashidze, who conducts bilateral negotiations with the Russian
Deputy Foreign Minister, Grigory Karasin, said "We are not discussing
the issue of opening the railways passing through Abkhazia with the
Russian side."
Abashidze said this topic has not been discussed with Mr. Karasin at
all. "But if there is an initiative from the Russian side, we are ready
to listen. However, if the railway is restored it would be on the basis
of protecting Georgia's territorial integrity," Abashidze explained.
Commenting on the issue, Ivanishvili said that it is not only a
simple economic question. The first factor that hinders reopening
of the railway is Russia's recognition of the independence of the
separatist regimes.
Georgia's former leadership form the United National Movement (UNM)
thinks that this is not in the interest of Georgia to reopen the
railway because the opening of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway is
underway and carries strategic importance for the country.
Some analysts express their concern over the issue connecting
Baghdasaryan's statement with Armenia's decision to join the Eurasian
Union and its customs treaty. The analysts suspect that Yerevan will
probably join this agreement and in return Moscow promises to regulate
the railway issue with Georgia.
Unfortunately, Georgia knows very well how Russia can regulate
relations with its neighbors.
http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/2943_september_10_2013/2943_edit.html