CAUCASUS RAILWAYS CEO SHEVKET SHAIDULIN TRAVELS TO SHIRAK PROVINCE

ARKA
Dec 2, 2009

YEREVAN, December 2, /ARKA/. South Caucasus Railways CEO Shevket
Shaidulin traveled today to the northwestern province of Shirak for
talks with mayor of Gyumri (administrative center of the province)
Vartan Ghukasian and provincial governor Lida Nanian.

The press service of the company said during the talks the sides
discussed social nature issues and safe operation of the railways,
including illegal level crossings which pose serious threat to people’s
lives. Shevket Shaydulin drew the local authorities’ attention to
the fact that many families still reside in dwellings and structures
owned by the South Caucasus railways company. He said the concessional
agreement with the Armenian government does not stipulate it. The
press service said in a press release that the sides agreed to settle
this problem step by step.

Shevket Shaidulin and governor Lida Nanian traveled also to Akhurian
railway station on the border with Turkey. The governor said she was
pleased with the quality and speed of repair work on that section of
the railway.

In 2007 the Armenian government called tenders for a 30-year concession
to modernize and operate Armenian Railways. The Russian Railways was
the only bidder and has set up South Caucasian Railway as a subsidiary
to run the Armenian Railway. The concession agreement was concluded
for 30 years, with a right of extension for another 20 years after
the first 20 years of operation.