Armenia will not discuss railway issues behind Russia's back, says Pashinyan

Yerevan is not going to discuss issues related to railways behind Moscow's back, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told journalists.

"We are not going to do anything behind Russia's back or against Russia, at least at this stage, when the opportunities for dialogue are wide and open. We will continue our work," Pashinyan said, responding to a question about whether the issue of transferring the concession for Armenian railways to the Kazakh side would be discussed during the visit of Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister to Armenia.

At the same time, he allowed for the possibility that discussions on communication-related issues could take place during the visit of the Kazakh delegation to Armenia.

In February, Pashinyan stated that any country maintaining friendly relations with both Russia and Armenia could buy the right to concessional management of the country's railways. He believes that this could include Kazakhstan, the United Arab Emirates, or Qatar.

Earlier, Russian Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin told RIA Novosti that Russia does not plan to transfer any concessions to anyone and that, at the official level, colleagues in Armenia have not discussed these issues with the Russian side.

In February 2008, the railway infrastructure of Armenia was transferred to the concessional management of South Caucasus Railway (YuKZHD) for 30 years, with the right to extend for another 10 years.

Source: RIA Novosti