Pashinyan navigates railway diplomacy: We see a certain understanding  on the part of the Russian Federation, for which we are grateful

ArmInfo."We see a certain understanding on the part of our Russian partners regarding the transfer of railway concession management, for which we are grateful," as stated by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan   during a briefing on March 5,  in response to journalists' questions.

He noted that  discussions regarding this issue are  taking place  between the Armenian and Russian sides at the working level. The  Prime Minister reiterated that the current situation is not directed  against Russia in any way. "We are simply stating the objective  situation, saying that we are losing our competitive advantages. We  are not guided by any other motivation, and I hope we can come to  concrete solutions," Pashinyan noted. 

Recall, South Caucasus Railways, a subsidiary of Russian Railways,  has been the concessionaire for Armenia's railways since 2008. The  concession term is 30 years.  On February 13 of this year, Prime  Minister Nikol Pashinyan, speaking to journalists, proposed the  Russian side to consider selling the concession rights for Armenia's  railways to a state friendly to both Moscow and Yerevan. Among the  options he named were Kazakhstan, the UAE, and Qatar. Pashinyan  asserted that Armenia has nothing against Russia, but that the  Russian concession creates "certain competitive losses" for the  country.

Following the Armenian prime minister's proposal, Russian Foreign  Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has called Nikol Pashinyan's  statement about Russia's concession management of Armenian railways  strange. She emphasized that the Russian operator is a structure that  does not deprive the Republic of Armenia of competitive advantages,  but rather creates them. "Our position regarding the restoration of  two sections of the railway connecting Armenia to Turkey and  Azerbaijan, at Yerevan's request, was clearly stated by Russian  Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk on February 12. This is the  position we will adhere to," Zakharova said.

Overchuk himself, commenting on the Armenian side's appeal, stated  that, based on friendly and fraternal feelings for the people of  Armenia, the Russian Federation has decided to begin substantive  negotiations on the restoration of two sections of the Armenian  railway. This will ensure their connection with the railways of the  Republic of Azerbaijan near the town of Yeraskh, as well as with the  railways of the Republic of Turkey near the Akhuryan community.