Tbilisi Hints it may Soften Stance over Abkhaz Railway

The Georgian daily Rezonansi (Resonance) quotes Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze as saying after talks with her Armenian counterpart Artur Bagdasarian, which was held on April 28, that Tbilisi ?has changed its position over restoration of a railway link via Abkhazia and is ready to discuss this issue if a concrete progress is made in resolving of the [Abkhaz] conflict.?

?This [restoration of a railway via Abkhazia] is very complicated issue and of course in case of a political will of all the sides involved, it can be positively solved; hence it will also be a positive contribution to a resolution of the Abkhaz problem,? Nino Burjanadze added.

She also said that, unlike previous years, now Georgia is ready to consider restoration of a railway link in parallel to resolving of problems related to the political issues as well as to return of internally displaced persons in Abkhazia.

Nino Burjanadze?s this statement was perceived as softening of stance by Tbilisi over the issue of restoration of a railway communication between Georgia and Russia via breakaway Abkhazia, which has been halted decade ago as a result of conflict in Abkhazia.

The Georgian authorities were pushing forward return of displaced Georgians to Abkhazia as a pre-condition to restoration of the railway.

Restoration of railway via Abkhazia is of vital importance for Armenia, which can get a rail access to its strategic partner ? Russia if Georgia agrees to rehabilitate this railway connection.

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