Armenia’s accession to customs union may serve as new impetus for reopening of Abkhazian railway
31.03.2014,
15:24
Armenia's accession to the Customs Union may serve as a new impetus for the reopening of the Abkhazian railway, according to Tatyana Valovaya, a senior member of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), who spoke last Saturday at a conference in Yerevan organized by the governing Republican Party of Armenia to look into opportunities and challenges of Armenia's accession to the Russia-led trade bloc.
YEREVAN, March 31. / ARKA /. Armenia's accession to the Customs Union may serve as a new impetus for the reopening of the Abkhazian railway, according to Tatyana Valovaya, a senior member of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), who spoke last Saturday at a conference in Yerevan organized by the governing Republican Party of Armenia to look into opportunities and challenges of Armenia's accession to the Russia-led trade bloc.
According to her, regardless of all other issues, Russia is interested in establishing normal railway links with Abkhazia, Georgia and Armenia. She added this could make the reopening of the Abkhazian railway more feasible.
"Of course, there are certain objective and subjective problems hindering the revival of the Abkhazian railway, but I hope they would be overcome,’ she said.
She added that all transport projects largely depend on the economy. “If there are goods which must be transported, there is then a need to invest and open transport corridors," she said.
During a visit to Armenia in 2013 January former Georgian prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili said the railway communication through Abkhazia could be restored after the resolution of a number of disputes with Russia.
The issue, which is of strategic importance for the economy of Armenia, was discussed also by the presidents of Armenia and Russia last September in Moscow. -0-
