Bagapsh Comments on Railway
Abkhaz leader Sergey Bagapsh said while meeting with the parliamentarians of the breakaway region on April 26 that resumption of railway traffic between Georgia and Russia via Abkhazia can not occur without Sokhumi’s consent, the Abkhaz Apsnipress and Russian Regnum news agencies reported.
He said that the Abkhaz budget will increase by an amount “totaling the two-year budget” of the region.
“We are ready to be a full-fledged member of the [potential railway] consortium [involving Russia, Georgia and Armenia]. But we will say no to this project if political demands are put forth towards us as a precondition for implementing this project,” Regnum quoted the Abkhaz leader as saying.
A meeting of railway officials from Russia, Georgia and Armenia is planned for early May in Moscow to discuss issues related to the rehabilitation of the railway via Abkhazia.
