Georgian PM: Tbilisi Positive over Resumption Abkhaz Railway
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli, who addressed the summit of chiefs of the railway companies in CIS countries in Tbilisi on June 15, told reporters that Georgia is ‘now positive about the resumption of the railway communication via breakaway Abkhazia. Chief of the Russian Railway Company Genadi Fadeev said that at least USD 100 million will be needed to rehabilitate this portion of railway.
‘Georgia’s previous authorities had a different position and were against [the reopening of this railway link], but the new authorities have recently taken a more positive stance on this issue. But this process [of reopening the railway] has some organizational problems and, of course, this issue is linked, first and foremost, with the security of the Georgian population of Gali district [of Abkhazia],’ Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli said.
Genadi Fadeev told reporters on June 15 that at least USD 100 million will be needed to resume this railway link via Abkhazia.
‘But this cost will further increase if we include [the expenses related to the] rehabilitation of [the portion of the railway] over the Enguri river,’ Genadi Fadeev said. The Enguri river marks the administrative border between Abkhazia and Georgia proper.
‘I think all participating countries – Russia, Georgia, also Armenia and, to a certain extant Azerbaijan as well – should fund the implementation of this project,’ the Chief of the Russian Railway Company added.
Chief of the Georgian Railway Company Davit Onoprishvili told reporters on June 15 that this railway connection via Abkhazia should be reopened ‘sooner or later.’
‘We are ready [to launch the rehabilitation process]. Today, groups [from Russia and Georgia, with the participation of the Abkhaz side] are meeting in Moscow to negotiate the technical issues. The fact is that this railway should be reopened sooner or later and Georgia will benefit…from this,’ Davit Onoprishvili said.
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