Tweet
Xinhua General News Service
September 6, 2013 Friday 3:25 PM EST
Georgia denies consent on re-opening Armenian-Russian railway via Abkhaz link
TBILISI Sept. 6
The Georgian authorities on Friday described as not credible a
statement by a senior Armenian official on Georgia's consent on
re-establishing the railway link between Armenia and Russia via
Abkhazia.
A Georgian government statement said no decision had been made
concerning the issue. "The government of Georgia showed interest in
this topic earlier and is now ready to discuss this initiative, though
this doesn't mean that a decision has been made," the statement said.
"We confirm that the government of Georgia is studying the issue of
restoring railway and considers that it may be interesting, but
there's a long way to go before the decision. A lot of political and
technical issues need to be reviewed. There must be a discussion and
public opinion must be formed," the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, Novosti Armenia, an Armenian news service, quoted
the country's security council secretary Artur Baghdasaryan as saying
that Moscow, Tbilisi and Sokhumi had agreed to re-open the Abkhaz
section of the Armenian-Russian railway line.
"The Georgian side gave its consent; the Russian and Abkhaz sides did
it too. But we have to understand that there is a conflict situation,"
the security council secretary was quoted as saying.
"But it is important that there is a political will to re-open this
railway and in overall to develop the railway communication and it is
reflected in the joint statement (of Armenian and Russian
presidents)," the official added.
Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili said in March this year
that his government had a political will to re-open the
Georgian-Russian railway via Abkhazia but would take a cautious
approach as the issue should be resolved in the context of resolving
border problems related to Russia and to "occupied territories."
Zurab Abashidze, Georgian prime minister's special envoy on Russian
issues, said Friday that the issue of Abkhaz railway link had not been
raised in his talks with Russian deputy Foreign Minister Gregory
Karasin.
"But if there is any initiative from the Russian side, some kind of a
proposal, we are ready to listen how they view the re- opening of this
railway. We are not saying that we will never talk about it; we can
talk about it and listen to Russia's view on the issue," the envoy
said.
Georgia's national security council secretary Giga Bokeria warned that
re-opening the Abkhaz railway link constitutes " serious risks."
Abkhazia pronounced independence after the 1991-1994 Georgian civil
war and re-pronounced independence in the wake of the 2008 conflict
between Georgia and Russia in South Ossetia. Georgia claims
sovereignty Abkhazia.
September 6, 2013 Friday 3:25 PM EST
Georgia denies consent on re-opening Armenian-Russian railway via Abkhaz link
TBILISI Sept. 6
The Georgian authorities on Friday described as not credible a
statement by a senior Armenian official on Georgia's consent on
re-establishing the railway link between Armenia and Russia via
Abkhazia.
A Georgian government statement said no decision had been made
concerning the issue. "The government of Georgia showed interest in
this topic earlier and is now ready to discuss this initiative, though
this doesn't mean that a decision has been made," the statement said.
"We confirm that the government of Georgia is studying the issue of
restoring railway and considers that it may be interesting, but
there's a long way to go before the decision. A lot of political and
technical issues need to be reviewed. There must be a discussion and
public opinion must be formed," the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, Novosti Armenia, an Armenian news service, quoted
the country's security council secretary Artur Baghdasaryan as saying
that Moscow, Tbilisi and Sokhumi had agreed to re-open the Abkhaz
section of the Armenian-Russian railway line.
"The Georgian side gave its consent; the Russian and Abkhaz sides did
it too. But we have to understand that there is a conflict situation,"
the security council secretary was quoted as saying.
"But it is important that there is a political will to re-open this
railway and in overall to develop the railway communication and it is
reflected in the joint statement (of Armenian and Russian
presidents)," the official added.
Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili said in March this year
that his government had a political will to re-open the
Georgian-Russian railway via Abkhazia but would take a cautious
approach as the issue should be resolved in the context of resolving
border problems related to Russia and to "occupied territories."
Zurab Abashidze, Georgian prime minister's special envoy on Russian
issues, said Friday that the issue of Abkhaz railway link had not been
raised in his talks with Russian deputy Foreign Minister Gregory
Karasin.
"But if there is any initiative from the Russian side, some kind of a
proposal, we are ready to listen how they view the re- opening of this
railway. We are not saying that we will never talk about it; we can
talk about it and listen to Russia's view on the issue," the envoy
said.
Georgia's national security council secretary Giga Bokeria warned that
re-opening the Abkhaz railway link constitutes " serious risks."
Abkhazia pronounced independence after the 1991-1994 Georgian civil
war and re-pronounced independence in the wake of the 2008 conflict
between Georgia and Russia in South Ossetia. Georgia claims
sovereignty Abkhazia.