ArmenPress
Dec 29 2004

RAILWAY COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ARMENIA AND RUSSIA MAY RESUME LATE NEXT
YEAR

MOSCOW, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS: An agreement signed Tuesday in
Moscow by Armenian defense minister Serzh Sarkisian and Russian
transport minister Igor Levitin, who are cochairmen of a joint
inter-governmental commission on economic cooperation is expected to
give a strong boost to further development of trade and economic ties
between these two countries. The agreement, signed during a regular
meeting of the commission in the Russian capital, envisages
cooperation in energy and transport sectors.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting Igor Levitin said a
ferryboat plying between Georgian port of Poti and Russian port of
Kavkaz will be operational beginning next January or February.
Levitin also said that Armenia's rail communication with Russia via
Georgia, disrupted by the Abkhaz conflict more than a decade ago,
could resume by the end of next year, before the end of the conflict.
Most likely Georgian officials have revised their position on this
issue as until now they used to say they will allow trains from
Abkhazia to go through Georgia only after thousands of Georgian
refugees from Abkhazia are allowed to go back.
In Moscow Russian and Armenian officials also spoke about granting
Armenian citizens some privileges, particulalry, extending their stay
in Russia up to three months without temporary registration.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress