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THE TRAIN GOING FROM YEREVAN TO MOSCOW GETS STUCK IN SUKHUMI
Caucasus Times
July 10 2014
by Inal Abaza
Prague, 10 July, Caucasus Times. The discussion of the restoration
of transit via the railway line across [Georgia's breakaway] Abkhazia
is gaining momentum. On 9 July, the issue was discussed by the Abkhaz
parliament. Vice speaker of the Abkhaz parliament, Vagarshak Kosyan,
and a group of deputies to the legislative body (Galust Trapizonyan,
Valeriy Mayromyan and Karapet Karagozyan) came forward with a proposal
to begin extensive public discussions regarding the possibility of
restoring the railway communication via Abkhazia.
Ethnic Armenian members of Abkhaz parliament raise railway issue
The statement, which they issued, said: "On the territory of South
Caucasus, processes of Eurasian integration continue to develop,
gathering speed. In May, Armenia declared its readiness to join the
Customs Union in the shortest possible time. We are sure that this
step is going to be beneficial for all member states of the Customs
Union. We whole-heartedly welcome Armenia's decision, as consolidation
of the 'South Caucasus vector' of Eurasian integration is going to
increase Abkhazia's chances for joining these integration structures
as a sovereign state. We believe that even now, Abkhazia can facilitate
processes of economic integration in the Caucasus and South Caucasus by
becoming an active participant in the processes. For this purpose, we
call to go back to discussing the issue of opening the Abkhaz-Georgian
section of the former Transcaucasus railway line. This section, which
is the shortest and cheapest, would allow Armenian export goods to
reach Russia by means of the optimal road. For its part, Russia would
get a stable transport corridor to the countiers of the Caucasus,
the Near East and the Middle East," the statement further said.
The terminology, which the vice speaker of the Abkhaz parliament took
the liberty to use, was extremely interesting: "The Abkhaz-Georgian
section of the former Transcaucasus railway line". First, the thing is
that the speaker not only failed to be politically correct, but he also
forgot that Armenia, whose interests he is lobbying, does not recognize
the independence of Abkhazia. Second, Georgia, via which the "road
of life" runs, will not even discuss the project in the Abkhaz format.
Abkhaz political forces "hold together" on railway issue
The railway project, which became topical in view of the early [24
August presidential] election in Abkhazia, sparked an ambiguous
reaction among political parties and movements of Abkhazia. In
particular, the Coordination Council of Political Parties and Public
Organizations of Abkhazia issued a special statement. Notwithstanding
the fact that the essence of the statement was embodied in the
terminology used by Vagarshak Kosyan, particularly, the fact of the
Georgian-Abkhaz section of the railway line being used, it was clear
that all political forces of Apsny (Abkhazia) hold together regarding
the given issue: If you need the railway, do recognize the independence
of Abkhazia and allocate funds.
However, due to the fact that Russia is the main lobbyist of the
project, political forces of the republic of Abkhazia refrain from
harsh pronouncements.
The statement by the Coordination Council of Political Parties and
Public Organizations of Abkhazia says: "As a result of the aggressive
policy pursued by Georgia, railway communication via Abkhazia has
been blocked for more than 20 years. On several occasions, Russian
and Abkhaz sides raised the issue of the restoration of transit
via the Abkhaz railway line. However, it remains unresolved up to
now. It is obvious that Georgia and its Western allies purposefully
hinder de-isolation of the [railway] communication of the South
Caucasus region and Armenia. The restoration of the transit railway
communication along our section of the former Transcaucasus railway
line will undoubtedly help to solve many economic and strategic
problems, which are posed to Russia and Abkhazia. Therefore, we support
Russia's consistent efforts regarding the restoration of the railway
communication, considering that Abkhazia should participate in the
talks on the problem as a full-fledged side. In addition to this, we
would like to direct the attention of Abkhaz public figures and MPs of
the Abkhaz parliament to the fact that there is no Abkhaz-Georgian
line, as mentioned in the statement, as the term implies joint
property. There is an Abkhaz [railway] line, which is the property
of the republic of Abkhazia, which is not under Georgian jurisdiction.
Therefore, we urge all participants in public discussions to be more
careful about the terminology they use".
The issue of the railway line operability is always accompanied with
scandals. It is first and foremost due to the fact that multi-billion
investments needed for the Abkhaz section of the railway line carry
risks for Abkhazia: It will be either too heavy a credit or a long-term
lease, which does not ensure profit for the republican budget. Even
today, Abkhazia owes the Russian Railways for restoring the railway
communication linking Abkhazia to the south of Russia.
Being in Moscow in June 2013, former Abkhaz prime minister Sergey
Shamba said that "Abkhazia is interested in the restoration of
Moscow-Sukhumi-Tbilisi railway communication and sooner or later,
it will accept the project".
Railway of "strategic importance" for Russia, "threat" for Baku
Today, the size of investments to be made in the construction of
the Abkhaz-Georgian railway section amounts to 300m dollars. The
reconstruction of the Moscow-Sukhumi route cost the Russian Federation
about the same. About 70 per cent of the amount of workload in the
sphere was carried out due to specialists from Moscow, as well as
the delivery of equipment from the metropolitan area of Russia.
Economic expert at the Voice of America radio station Vardkes Artsruni
recently said that the "restoration of the Abkhaz-Georgian section
of the former Transcaucasus railway is of strategic importance for
Armenia and Russia. This line would make it possible for Russia to
restore stable communication traffic with the states of the Caucasus".
This by no means plays into the hands of all Caucasus countries. Baku
was the main opponent of the "road of life" connecting Armenia and
Russia. In Baku, they perceived the "road of life" as a threat posed
to their national security, thinking that echelons of tanks will be
sent from Russia to Armenia.
[Translated from Russian]
Caucasus Times
July 10 2014
by Inal Abaza
Prague, 10 July, Caucasus Times. The discussion of the restoration
of transit via the railway line across [Georgia's breakaway] Abkhazia
is gaining momentum. On 9 July, the issue was discussed by the Abkhaz
parliament. Vice speaker of the Abkhaz parliament, Vagarshak Kosyan,
and a group of deputies to the legislative body (Galust Trapizonyan,
Valeriy Mayromyan and Karapet Karagozyan) came forward with a proposal
to begin extensive public discussions regarding the possibility of
restoring the railway communication via Abkhazia.
Ethnic Armenian members of Abkhaz parliament raise railway issue
The statement, which they issued, said: "On the territory of South
Caucasus, processes of Eurasian integration continue to develop,
gathering speed. In May, Armenia declared its readiness to join the
Customs Union in the shortest possible time. We are sure that this
step is going to be beneficial for all member states of the Customs
Union. We whole-heartedly welcome Armenia's decision, as consolidation
of the 'South Caucasus vector' of Eurasian integration is going to
increase Abkhazia's chances for joining these integration structures
as a sovereign state. We believe that even now, Abkhazia can facilitate
processes of economic integration in the Caucasus and South Caucasus by
becoming an active participant in the processes. For this purpose, we
call to go back to discussing the issue of opening the Abkhaz-Georgian
section of the former Transcaucasus railway line. This section, which
is the shortest and cheapest, would allow Armenian export goods to
reach Russia by means of the optimal road. For its part, Russia would
get a stable transport corridor to the countiers of the Caucasus,
the Near East and the Middle East," the statement further said.
The terminology, which the vice speaker of the Abkhaz parliament took
the liberty to use, was extremely interesting: "The Abkhaz-Georgian
section of the former Transcaucasus railway line". First, the thing is
that the speaker not only failed to be politically correct, but he also
forgot that Armenia, whose interests he is lobbying, does not recognize
the independence of Abkhazia. Second, Georgia, via which the "road
of life" runs, will not even discuss the project in the Abkhaz format.
Abkhaz political forces "hold together" on railway issue
The railway project, which became topical in view of the early [24
August presidential] election in Abkhazia, sparked an ambiguous
reaction among political parties and movements of Abkhazia. In
particular, the Coordination Council of Political Parties and Public
Organizations of Abkhazia issued a special statement. Notwithstanding
the fact that the essence of the statement was embodied in the
terminology used by Vagarshak Kosyan, particularly, the fact of the
Georgian-Abkhaz section of the railway line being used, it was clear
that all political forces of Apsny (Abkhazia) hold together regarding
the given issue: If you need the railway, do recognize the independence
of Abkhazia and allocate funds.
However, due to the fact that Russia is the main lobbyist of the
project, political forces of the republic of Abkhazia refrain from
harsh pronouncements.
The statement by the Coordination Council of Political Parties and
Public Organizations of Abkhazia says: "As a result of the aggressive
policy pursued by Georgia, railway communication via Abkhazia has
been blocked for more than 20 years. On several occasions, Russian
and Abkhaz sides raised the issue of the restoration of transit
via the Abkhaz railway line. However, it remains unresolved up to
now. It is obvious that Georgia and its Western allies purposefully
hinder de-isolation of the [railway] communication of the South
Caucasus region and Armenia. The restoration of the transit railway
communication along our section of the former Transcaucasus railway
line will undoubtedly help to solve many economic and strategic
problems, which are posed to Russia and Abkhazia. Therefore, we support
Russia's consistent efforts regarding the restoration of the railway
communication, considering that Abkhazia should participate in the
talks on the problem as a full-fledged side. In addition to this, we
would like to direct the attention of Abkhaz public figures and MPs of
the Abkhaz parliament to the fact that there is no Abkhaz-Georgian
line, as mentioned in the statement, as the term implies joint
property. There is an Abkhaz [railway] line, which is the property
of the republic of Abkhazia, which is not under Georgian jurisdiction.
Therefore, we urge all participants in public discussions to be more
careful about the terminology they use".
The issue of the railway line operability is always accompanied with
scandals. It is first and foremost due to the fact that multi-billion
investments needed for the Abkhaz section of the railway line carry
risks for Abkhazia: It will be either too heavy a credit or a long-term
lease, which does not ensure profit for the republican budget. Even
today, Abkhazia owes the Russian Railways for restoring the railway
communication linking Abkhazia to the south of Russia.
Being in Moscow in June 2013, former Abkhaz prime minister Sergey
Shamba said that "Abkhazia is interested in the restoration of
Moscow-Sukhumi-Tbilisi railway communication and sooner or later,
it will accept the project".
Railway of "strategic importance" for Russia, "threat" for Baku
Today, the size of investments to be made in the construction of
the Abkhaz-Georgian railway section amounts to 300m dollars. The
reconstruction of the Moscow-Sukhumi route cost the Russian Federation
about the same. About 70 per cent of the amount of workload in the
sphere was carried out due to specialists from Moscow, as well as
the delivery of equipment from the metropolitan area of Russia.
Economic expert at the Voice of America radio station Vardkes Artsruni
recently said that the "restoration of the Abkhaz-Georgian section
of the former Transcaucasus railway is of strategic importance for
Armenia and Russia. This line would make it possible for Russia to
restore stable communication traffic with the states of the Caucasus".
This by no means plays into the hands of all Caucasus countries. Baku
was the main opponent of the "road of life" connecting Armenia and
Russia. In Baku, they perceived the "road of life" as a threat posed
to their national security, thinking that echelons of tanks will be
sent from Russia to Armenia.
[Translated from Russian]