AZG Armenian Daily #113, 21/06/2005

Region

ARMENIAN, RUSSIAN, GEORGIAN AND ABKHAZ RAILWAYMEN GATHER IN GALI

Tbilisi Softens Position On Abkhazian Railway Opening

On June 15, Georgian authorities in Tbilisi announced that they are ready to
start talks with Moscow over opening the Abkhazian link of the
Transcaucasian Railway. As it was preliminary estimated, the railway from
Georgian town of Zugdid to the administrative center of Abkhazia Sukhumi
will cost $100 million.

Since the Georgian-Abkhaz war in 1992-93 and Abkhazia’s de facto
independence, the railway has been standing idle, getting partially
dismantled or robbed. The Sochi-Sukhumi section of the railway has been
operating for the second year already.

The Transcaucasian Railway used to connect Armenia with Russia in the Soviet
times, conveying annually 15 million tones of cargo.

It seems that Georgia shifting its former tough position over the railway’s
reopening. “The former Georgian authorities were against opening the railway
but the new authorities show positive attitude”, Georgian Prime Minister
Zurab Noghaideli stated. He noted meanwhile that the reopening will bring
out a number of organizational issues, as well as the issue of ensuring the
security of Gali region’s population.

Formerly, Georgia used to say that the refugees should return to Abkhazia,
particularly the region of Gali, against agreeing to open the railway. If
Eduard Shevardnadze’s Georgia set the priority of Abkhaz conflict
resolution, then today’s authorities think that the railway reopening will
urge conflict resolution.

“In general, the Georgian side is interested in reopening this railway
traffic, because it will boost economy and, in turn, might well foster the
conflict resolution process”, chief of the Georgian Railway Company Davit
Onoprishvili said. He said that the cost of the rehabilitation works will
exceed $100 million. He also noted that apart from Russia and Georgia,
Armenia and Azerbaijan should also participate in implementation of the
project to a certain extent.

Official Yerevan’s response followed immediately. Chief of Armenian
Railways, Ararat Khrimian, stated that if Russia and Georgia take a final
official decision to reopen the railway, then Armenia will fund the project
in part. Khrimian emphasized that the Transcaucasian Railway is important
for all countries of the region.

Once the railway operates, Abkhazia as a transit country, will receive the
major part of profits. The new authorities in Sukhumi, particularly deputy
Prime Minister Leonid Lakerbaya, underscored the importance of the railway.
Tbilisi may expect large sums for transit, too. Undoubtedly, the railway
will become the main route for Armenian goods.

Azerbaijan and Turkey though are not enthusiastic over the idea of railway
opening, as it will bring some relief to blockaded Armenia. Russia is also
looking to opening the railway, as it will help establish comparatively
reliable and cheap communication with its strategic partner – Armenia, and
will enable it to maintain at least its economic influence in the South
Caucasus.

Despite disagreements in Russian-Georgian-Abkhaz talks in Moscow on June 16,
the issue seems to be put in motion. On July 1, Armenian, Russian, Georgian
and Abkhaz railwaymen will gather in Gali to study the technical condition
of the railway.

By Tatoul Hakobian