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Andrey Areshev, expert at the Center for Central Asia and the Caucasus, the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Indeed, the reopening of railway services to Abkhazia seems to be very important for Armenia, however not only for Armenia, but also for those countries, which, so to speak, in the future will be directly associated with this project.
We are talking about Georgia and Abkhazia as well. I am glad that this issue has recently entered, so to speak, the domain of expert, detailed discussions.
I know that in Armenia particularly there is a clear understanding of the importance of the project also for Georgia.
I can tell you that I feel that in Abkhazia as well there is an understanding that the country cannot remain in isolation and should be integrated in the future, it is clear that there is a serious political conflict, but there are always ways to improve the mutually-beneficial cross-border cooperation, even in the face of an unresolved or partially-unresolved political conflict.
In my opinion, the issue of the new system, the new matrix of transport organization in the Caucasus region could be one of the key issues in the very near future.
And in case of the resumption of the operation of the Abkhaz railroad, the railway project to link Armenia with Iran will certainly receive a new development.
The project which is now being implemented in Armenia, the North-South project, providing transport connection in the very near future, finds its logical conclusion.
Armenia will in fact become the bridge through which Customs Union and Russia will gain additional influence in the Middle East.