Tbilisi/06.09.13/Turan-BSPRESS: Russia, Georgia and Abkhazia agree to the opening of the Abkhazian section of the railway, reporters were told by Security Council Secretary, Arthur Baghdasaryan, on Friday in Yerevan.
The opening of the Abkhazian section of the road, which is of strategic importance to the economy of Armenia, was discussed by the presidents of Armenia and Russia, Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin in Moscow on September 3.
"The Georgian side, as well as the Russian and Abkhaz sides has given their consent, but we need to understand that there are conflicting parties. However, the important thing is that there is political will for the opening of the railway, and, in general, the development of railway communications, as recorded in a joint statement (of presidents)," said Bagdasaryan.
Security Council Secretary also said that during the talks Sargsyan and Putin discussed the development of railways, and the Russian side expressed readiness to finance large-scale investment in rail transport in Armenia, according to the agency "Novosti -Armenia".
Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili, during his visit to Yerevan in January 2013 announced the possibility of restoration of the railway through Abkhazia, which was interrupted as a result of the Georgian- Abkhaz conflict in 1992-1993, after the settlement of disputes with Russia.
Earlier, Tbilisi said that the opening of the road is possible is Russia recognizes territorial integrity of Georgia, but Moscow has refused to recognize Abkhazia as part of Georgia.
If the information on Georgia's readiness to open the road to Armenia is confirmed, it will be an unpleasant surprise for Baku. Earlier, the government of Georgia took into account the interests of Azerbaijan, which opposed the opening of the road before the settlement of the Karabakh conflict.
Official Tbilisi has not spoken on this issue, however, a member of parliament from the ruling party of Georgia, Victor Dolidze, said in his interview with the TV channel "Imedi" on September 6 that the opening of the Abkhazian section of the railway was discussed in Georgia, but the government has not taken any decision.
Commenting on the statement of Arthur Baghdasaryan, the Georgian deputy said, "I do not know the context in which Mr. Baghdasaryan said it. I know that they are in the past, and are now are thinking about economic projects and the development of the railway in Abkhazia, but did you know that there cannot be a talk about such a decision. One thing is the review and discussion, and the other thing is the existence of such a decision on the level of government. Such a decision does not exist," said Dolidze.
Speaking at the spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg, on 23 April, the head of the Georgian government, Bidzina Ivanishvili, said that the Abkhaz section of the railway in the future will certainly be opened, but it should take place only with regard to the interests of Georgia. -02D-
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