Oleg Belozyorov, head of Russian Railways, is coming to Armenia to discuss matters concerning the Armenian railway system, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Robert Abisoghomonyan said, according to RFE/RL.
Earlier reports indicated that the head of the Russian company would arrive in Armenia during the current week. However, the exact date of the visit has not yet been announced.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also addressed Belozyorov’s upcoming visit during an earlier press briefing, outlining his expectations for the forthcoming negotiations.
“We will hold a working discussion and draw certain conclusions based on its results,” he said.
For several months, Armenian authorities have been raising concerns about the existing concession agreement governing the management of the country’s railway infrastructure. According to official Yerevan’s assessment, the current management model deprives Armenia of certain competitive advantages because Western partners are not interested in using railway infrastructure operated under Russian management.
The Armenian side has proposed discussing the possibility of transferring railway management rights to a third country. Under Yerevan’s proposal, that country would have to be acceptable to both Armenia and Russia.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has emphasized on several occasions that Armenia wants to resolve the issue through mutual understanding while preserving friendly relations and avoiding tensions over the matter.
The Russian side, for its part, has responded to Yerevan’s proposals by pointing to the obligations stipulated in the existing concession agreement.
In particular, Russian representatives have warned that revising the agreement’s terms or terminating it could lead to demands for compensation for investments made in Armenia’s railway system.
Thus, the future management arrangements for Armenia’s railway network are expected to be the central focus of Oleg Belozyorov’s upcoming visit, taking into account Armenia’s economic interests, opportunities for cooperation with international partners and obligations arising from the existing agreement.
