Vigen Sargsyan comments on railway operation via Abkhazia
Reopening of a railway via Abkhazia should be not only Armenia’s or Russia’s interest but also of Georgia, Armenian Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan said in an interview with Georgia Online.
“If we are speaking about the operation of a railway via Abkhazia in order to facilitate the transportation of goods from Armenian and Georgia to Russia and vice versa, I think not only Armenia and Russia, but also Georgia should be interested,” Minister Sargsyan has said, adding states show readiness for utilizing all communications means throughout the world.
“We have not conceived the sealed Armenian-Turkish border thus far. We are prone to think such a policy does not solve problems, except further aggravating them. For that reason, if leaderships of Georgia and Russia find an opportunity to reopen the railway, we will welcome that, since that will facilitate the transfer of goods to and from Armenia, as well as to Iran,” the minister has noted, stressing the decision would be in the peoples’ interest of all states.
“No negotiations are taking place today. The Armenian side has numerously and repeatedly voiced at public debates and separate meetings alike that without any doubt the sooner it happens the better it will be for us, since it remains inadmissible for Georgie’s economy to remain dependent on solely Lars checkpoint,” Minister Sargsyan has clarified.
Furthermore, in his words, Russia represents a serious market for Georgia
“We see that and are glad for that, likewise we realize that is a convenient route to enter the Russian market. I am sure sooner or later the final decision over the matter should be made here - in Tbilisi and in Moscow,” the minister has added.