2 minute read
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said he discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin the opportunities arising from the positive developments in the South Caucasus for bilateral relations between the two countries during their December 22 meeting in Saint Petersburg.
Pashinyan was asked at a press briefing to provide details about his talks with Putin.
“We discussed what opportunities the positive changes happening in the region will create for Armenia-Russia relations, the Eurasian Economic Union, and so on. During that meeting, in my opening remarks, I stated that we now consider it important that, in the first phase, at least restoration work be carried out in the Tavush region, up to the ‘Ijevan’ railway station, as well as in the Akhurik section—from the Armenia-Türkiye border to the operational railway section, and from Nakhchivan to the Yeraskh area. We hope that our partners from the Russian Federation will carry out these works as quickly as possible. You know that these [railway] sections are under Russian concession. I have also expressed our willingness for the Armenian government to take these sections back from the concession, and we will carry out the restoration works with the resources of our state budget if it turns out that Russia faces any issues or sees any problems with completing this work within the proper timeframes,” said the Prime Minister of Armenia.