Memorandum of Understanding signed between Eurasian Economic Commission and Organization of Cooperation between Railways (OSJD: Russian abbreviation) will have a positive impact on development of integration processes in the field, but it will not involve Armenia, Gagik Movsesyan, head of the Department for Passenger Traffic at the South Caucasus Railway CJSC, told ArmInfo.
He is sure that the blockade of the Abkhazian-Georgian section of the former Transcaucasian Railway is the very factor that impedes Armenia's involvement into the ongoing integration processes in the railway communication field. "Reactivation of the given railway section would partially bring Armenia out of the transport blockade, help to improve the exports and import policy. Meantime, we are observing downward trends in both export and import now," Movsesyan said.
The 221km Abkhaz section of the railway extending from Psou roadside stop (Abkhazia-Russia border) to Ingur roadside stop (Abkhazia-Georgia border) has been closed for Armenia and Georgia since Aug 14 1992 after the railway bridge over the River Ingur (dividing Georgia from Abkhazia) was detonated. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Eurasian Economic Commission and Organization of Cooperation between Railways in Moscow on October 6. The goal of the memorandum is to ensure long-term cooperation between the two organizations in development of the railway communication in the Euraisan region.