Saakashvili critical of Russia-Armenia railway plan

  14 February 2013    Read: 780
Saakashvili critical of Russia-Armenia railway plan
The Georgian president has expressed criticism over Russia`s plan for building a railway corridor with Armenia, Georgia Online reported.
Mikheil Saakashvili addressed the question at the Eastern Partnership`s non-official summit, when speaking of the possible re-establishment of the Georgian-Russian railway communication over the territory of Abkhazia.
“A big debate is going on these days over the transport corridors. We are, on the one hand, ready to maximum expand the transport communication in all directions,” the Georgian leader said, adding that he attaches a major importance to the freight and passenger mobility across the South Caucasus region.
“We maintain warm and close relations with Armenia. I am thankful to them, especially for 2008, when Armenia demonstrated solidarity with Georgia after the war. I cannot but appreciate that. We did all our best to have the Armenian freight transported across the Georgian territory. We opened the Lars checkpoint as the Poti port was under full workload. There is now a question for opening a railway via Abkhazia. I do not want the neighboring Armenia to face any problems with freight. I just want you to know what my position is,” said Saakashvili.
“First, we are aware that Russia is the owner of the Armenian railway. When they purchased it and later owned the occupied Abkhazia`s railway, I came up with a question. We were not talking about the railway`s re-opening then. What project did Russia have? Why did it need the Armenian railway when the Georgian railway was not open,” he said, considering the Russian project a far-reaching and insidious plan.
“They had their own calculations on the Georgian election. They seemed to have their favorite and had undertaken specific commitments. I cannot explain it otherwise,” Saakashvili added.

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