Georgian PM: Railway communication through Abkhazia to be restored

Georgia, Tbilisi, July 3 / Trend N. Kirtzkhalia / Railway communication through Abkhazia is sure to be restored, but time is required for this to take place, Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili said at a press conference on Wednesday. According to him, this railway is necessary for the economic development of the country and to establish relations with Abkhazia. "The more roads we have, the more chances we have for development," Ivanishvili said. "This is an axiom." The prime minister stressed that at this stage the problems with the implementation of this project occurred because the question is 'much politicised'. "First of all we had to explain our people the need to restore the railway," he said. "In my opinion we succeeded and will begin moving in this direction." Former Foreign Minister of the self-proclaimed republic of Abkhazia Sergei Shamba has recently said that Sukhumi will support the resumption of railway communication with Georgia. Earlier, the Sukhumi regime strongly opposed it. Large scale military action was launched in South Ossetia on August 8, 2008. Later, Russian troops occupied Tskhinvali and expelled the Georgian military. Russia recognised the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in late August. In response, Tbilisi broke diplomatic relations with Moscow and has called the two unrecognised republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia occupied territories. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az