It’s early to talk about restoring Abkhazian railway, Georgian PM says
03.07.2013,
13:08
The Abkhazian railway will definitely re-open, but as of now it is too early to speak about it, Georgian prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili told reporters on Wednesday, Novosti-Armenia reported referring to RIA Novosti.
YEREVAN, July 3./ARKA/. The Abkhazian railway will definitely re-open, but as of now it is too early to speak about it, Georgian prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili told reporters on Wednesday, Novosti-Armenia reported referring to RIA Novosti.
“Of course, the railway should open, and it will. This railway will improve the relations with the Abkhazians and economy. But very often, what is good for economy is bad for politics. I think, this issue is too politicized. The restoration of the railway may occur when this issue doesn’t raise so much ado anymore,” Ivanishvili said.
Late October 2012, reintegration minister of Georgia Paata Zaqareishvili declared that the Georgian authorities were ready to restore the railway connection with Russia. The experts estimated this initiative at over 1.8 billion rubles.
During his visit to Yerevan in January 2013, Ivanishvili said the Abkhazian railway might be restored after Georgia and Russia agree on a number of issues. The railway was closed following the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict of 1992-1993.
In response to this, Georgian president Mikheil Sahakashvili said the restoration of the Abkhazian railway was primarily within the interests of Russia rather than Georgia, and that issue would be considered after the territorial integrity of Georgia is confirmed, “as if Georgia restores the railway, it will actually mean we have legitimized the recognition of Abkhazia by Russia.”—0-
