ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
January 9, 2005 Sunday

Armenia content with Georgia-Russia direct railway ferry opening

By Tengiz Pachkoria

TBILISI

Armenian Transportation Minister Andranik Markaryan is satisfied with
the decision of Georgia and Russia to open a direct railway ferry
connection. He said so in the Georgian capital Tbilisi on Sunday
evening.

The Armenian minister pointed out that the ferry between the ports of
Poti (Georgia) and Kavkaz (Russia) is “a shorter way for carrying
cargoes by trains than the Poti-Ilyichevsk ferry crossing.”

Markaryan believes it is “important” that the Poti-Kavkaz railway
ferry can be used not only by Georgia and Russia, but also by other
Southern Caucasus countries.

On Monday Markaryan and members of a delegation of the Azerbaijani
transportation ministry arriving in Tbilisi will hold talks with
Russian Transportation Minister Igor Levitin, who is also in Tbilisi,
and Georgian officials.

The sides will discuss issues of cooperation between railways of
Caucasian countries.

According to available information, the sides will discuss the issue
concerning the terms of the establishment of a consortium of railway
companies of four countries: Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.