Armenian PM says restored railway link with Russia “vitally important”

Mediamax news agency
3 Nov 04

YEREVAN

Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan met the head of the Russian
Railways Company, Gennadiy Fadeyev, in Yerevan today.

The sides noted that currently both the Russian Railways Company and
the Armenian Railway Department have great potential which have not
yet been used because there is no direct railway link between Russia
and Armenia, the government’s press service told Mediamax news agency
today.

Markaryan said that the “restoration of transport communications is
vitally important to Armenia and we are interested in the most rapid
resolution of the problem”. “The Armenian government is ready for
practical steps in this direction,” the prime minister said.

Fadeyev said that restoring the direct railway communication link will
also suit Russia’s economic interests. He said that during the visit
to Yerevan the Russian Railways Company and the Armenian Railway
Department will sign a memorandum on the creation of a joint
Armenian-Russian joint venture for the transport of goods.

An agreement has been reached to set up a working group to work out
organizational, financial, economic and technical concepts for the new
joint venture.