ARMENIA READY TO LEND FINANCIAL SUPPORT IN RESTORATION OF ABKHAZIAN RAILWAY

AZG Armenian Daily #111, 17/06/2005

Region

Armenia is ready to allocate part of the financial sources required
for the restoration of railroad communication through the territory
of Abkhazia. Mediamax agency informed that Ararat Khrimian, head of
“Armenian Railroads” CJSC, stated this in Tbilisi. He was participating
in the sitting of transport council of CIS member countries.

“Armenia wants to be involved in the project of restoration of
Sochi-Tbilisi Railroad communication, if Russia and Georgia take
a final decision on state level on restoration of that part of the
railroad,” Khrimian stated.

Genady Fadeyev, head of Russian Railroads, stated in his turn that
the expenditure of restoration of the Abkhazian part of the railroad
will cost about $100 million.

Zurab Noghayideli, Georgian prime minister, said at the sitting of
transport board of the CIS member countries that Tbilisi has a more
positive position in the issue of restoring the Abkhazian part of the
railroad. At the same time, Noghayideli said that one shouldn’t hurry
unless there are unsolved issues, particularly the issue of securing
the safety of Gali region’s residents.