The restoration of railway communication between Armenia and Russia through the territory of Abkhazia and Georgia corresponds to the economic interests of Yerevan and Moscow. This project can also further strengthen the political ties between the two countries, although bilateral relations are still at the highest level today. This was announced by RA Ambassador to Russia Vardan Toghanyan during a discussion in the press center of “Parlamentskaya Gazeta”. 

According to the diplomat, Moscow and Yerevan are showing the best experience of friendship to the whole world, and there are no global issues on their agenda. They do not exist not only on the political stage, but also in real life: about 1.5 million Armenians living and working in Russia are just one of the vivid proofs of this.

“At the very least, we are obliged to maintain such relations, taking into account our historical experience and modern realities. It is necessary to deepen the military-political, economic, cultural partnership”, RA Ambassador to Russia Toghanyan emphasized.

Participant in the discussion, vice-chairman of the Control and Regulation Committee of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Oleg Nilov noted that the process of deepening relations between the two countries should start with the restoration of railway communication between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia, because it is required in the context of both passenger and cargo transportation. “What’s more, this road also provides us with exits to the huge market of Iran,” said the Russian deputy.

He noted that the road must pass through the territory of Abkhazia and Georgia. “Considering that normal relations have been established between Armenia and Georgia, the implementation of the project depends to a large extent on the diplomatic efforts of Tbilisi and Yerevan. It is very important that the railway does not create fears on the Georgian side,” Nilov warned.

At the same time, he reminded that Russian trains to Kaliningrad have been passing through Lithuania for a long time, although there are complicated relations with that state. “The trains go without stops, the carriages are tied up. This scheme can also be applied in this case. And I am sure that all the investments will pay off very quickly,” added the deputy.

Vardan Toghanyan, in his turn, confirmed that Armenia and Russia still really lack cooperation-production projects. There is cooperation in the field of gas and energy, but there is a need for projects in other fields, for example in agriculture. In this sense, the ambassador suggests involving partners from Kazakhstan and Belarus.

“I am confident that the railway, passing through the territory of the Russian Federation, can work for the interests of Central Asia as well, because Armenia alone cannot be the beneficiary of such an economic project. But such programs can strengthen the political basis of these relations and I am fully in favor of that idea,” Toghanyan added.