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The Train Going From Yerevan To Moscow Gets Stuck In Sukhumi

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  • The Train Going From Yerevan To Moscow Gets Stuck In Sukhumi

    THE TRAIN GOING FROM YEREVAN TO MOSCOW GETS STUCK IN SUKHUMI

    Caucasus Times
    July 10 2014

    by Inal Abaza

    Prague, 10 July, Caucasus Times. The discussion of the restoration
    of transit via the railway line across [Georgia's breakaway] Abkhazia
    is gaining momentum. On 9 July, the issue was discussed by the Abkhaz
    parliament. Vice speaker of the Abkhaz parliament, Vagarshak Kosyan,
    and a group of deputies to the legislative body (Galust Trapizonyan,
    Valeriy Mayromyan and Karapet Karagozyan) came forward with a proposal
    to begin extensive public discussions regarding the possibility of
    restoring the railway communication via Abkhazia.

    Ethnic Armenian members of Abkhaz parliament raise railway issue

    The statement, which they issued, said: "On the territory of South
    Caucasus, processes of Eurasian integration continue to develop,
    gathering speed. In May, Armenia declared its readiness to join the
    Customs Union in the shortest possible time. We are sure that this
    step is going to be beneficial for all member states of the Customs
    Union. We whole-heartedly welcome Armenia's decision, as consolidation
    of the 'South Caucasus vector' of Eurasian integration is going to
    increase Abkhazia's chances for joining these integration structures
    as a sovereign state. We believe that even now, Abkhazia can facilitate
    processes of economic integration in the Caucasus and South Caucasus by
    becoming an active participant in the processes. For this purpose, we
    call to go back to discussing the issue of opening the Abkhaz-Georgian
    section of the former Transcaucasus railway line. This section, which
    is the shortest and cheapest, would allow Armenian export goods to
    reach Russia by means of the optimal road. For its part, Russia would
    get a stable transport corridor to the countiers of the Caucasus,
    the Near East and the Middle East," the statement further said.

    The terminology, which the vice speaker of the Abkhaz parliament took
    the liberty to use, was extremely interesting: "The Abkhaz-Georgian
    section of the former Transcaucasus railway line". First, the thing is
    that the speaker not only failed to be politically correct, but he also
    forgot that Armenia, whose interests he is lobbying, does not recognize
    the independence of Abkhazia. Second, Georgia, via which the "road
    of life" runs, will not even discuss the project in the Abkhaz format.

    Abkhaz political forces "hold together" on railway issue

    The railway project, which became topical in view of the early [24
    August presidential] election in Abkhazia, sparked an ambiguous
    reaction among political parties and movements of Abkhazia. In
    particular, the Coordination Council of Political Parties and Public
    Organizations of Abkhazia issued a special statement. Notwithstanding
    the fact that the essence of the statement was embodied in the
    terminology used by Vagarshak Kosyan, particularly, the fact of the
    Georgian-Abkhaz section of the railway line being used, it was clear
    that all political forces of Apsny (Abkhazia) hold together regarding
    the given issue: If you need the railway, do recognize the independence
    of Abkhazia and allocate funds.

    However, due to the fact that Russia is the main lobbyist of the
    project, political forces of the republic of Abkhazia refrain from
    harsh pronouncements.

    The statement by the Coordination Council of Political Parties and
    Public Organizations of Abkhazia says: "As a result of the aggressive
    policy pursued by Georgia, railway communication via Abkhazia has
    been blocked for more than 20 years. On several occasions, Russian
    and Abkhaz sides raised the issue of the restoration of transit
    via the Abkhaz railway line. However, it remains unresolved up to
    now. It is obvious that Georgia and its Western allies purposefully
    hinder de-isolation of the [railway] communication of the South
    Caucasus region and Armenia. The restoration of the transit railway
    communication along our section of the former Transcaucasus railway
    line will undoubtedly help to solve many economic and strategic
    problems, which are posed to Russia and Abkhazia. Therefore, we support
    Russia's consistent efforts regarding the restoration of the railway
    communication, considering that Abkhazia should participate in the
    talks on the problem as a full-fledged side. In addition to this, we
    would like to direct the attention of Abkhaz public figures and MPs of
    the Abkhaz parliament to the fact that there is no Abkhaz-Georgian
    line, as mentioned in the statement, as the term implies joint
    property. There is an Abkhaz [railway] line, which is the property
    of the republic of Abkhazia, which is not under Georgian jurisdiction.

    Therefore, we urge all participants in public discussions to be more
    careful about the terminology they use".

    The issue of the railway line operability is always accompanied with
    scandals. It is first and foremost due to the fact that multi-billion
    investments needed for the Abkhaz section of the railway line carry
    risks for Abkhazia: It will be either too heavy a credit or a long-term
    lease, which does not ensure profit for the republican budget. Even
    today, Abkhazia owes the Russian Railways for restoring the railway
    communication linking Abkhazia to the south of Russia.

    Being in Moscow in June 2013, former Abkhaz prime minister Sergey
    Shamba said that "Abkhazia is interested in the restoration of
    Moscow-Sukhumi-Tbilisi railway communication and sooner or later,
    it will accept the project".

    Railway of "strategic importance" for Russia, "threat" for Baku

    Today, the size of investments to be made in the construction of
    the Abkhaz-Georgian railway section amounts to 300m dollars. The
    reconstruction of the Moscow-Sukhumi route cost the Russian Federation
    about the same. About 70 per cent of the amount of workload in the
    sphere was carried out due to specialists from Moscow, as well as
    the delivery of equipment from the metropolitan area of Russia.

    Economic expert at the Voice of America radio station Vardkes Artsruni
    recently said that the "restoration of the Abkhaz-Georgian section
    of the former Transcaucasus railway is of strategic importance for
    Armenia and Russia. This line would make it possible for Russia to
    restore stable communication traffic with the states of the Caucasus".

    This by no means plays into the hands of all Caucasus countries. Baku
    was the main opponent of the "road of life" connecting Armenia and
    Russia. In Baku, they perceived the "road of life" as a threat posed
    to their national security, thinking that echelons of tanks will be
    sent from Russia to Armenia.

    [Translated from Russian]

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