Visit by Russian Railways head to Armenia opens prospects for resolving disputed issues: Kristina Yermak

Kristina Yermak, international affairs expert, told Alpha News about the visit to Armenia by Oleg Belozyorov, head of Russian Railways. In her view, the creation of an interdepartmental working group and the setting of a three-month deadline for discussing management of the South Caucasus Railway concession show the sides’ readiness to move from discussions to practical solutions.

“Since the issue of the railways remains central to the Armenian-Russian agenda, the meeting with Oleg Belozyorov, head of Russian Railways, and its outcomes appear very significant. A working group has already been created, aimed at discussing the effectiveness of managing the SCR concession and resolving the sensitive issues that arise in this area between Moscow and Yerevan. Notably, specific deadlines have been set: three months, during which the discussion should move into a practical phase. It is also important that the working group brings together several ministries and agencies. This points to great potential, since specific solutions were proposed to Russia during this meeting,” Yermak said.

According to Kristina Yermak, resolving the existing disagreements may also affect the general rhetoric surrounding relations between Moscow and Yerevan. She believes that constructive dialogue and concrete prospects for resolving disputed issues help the sides turn more often to the origins of the friendly Armenian-Russian ties.

“Judging by the statements of Nikol Pashinyan, we see a prospect that the existing sensitive issues will be successfully resolved. All of this also affects the general rhetoric surrounding relations between Moscow and Yerevan. The more constructive the dialogue, and the more clearly the solutions and prospects for settling sensitive issues are formulated, the more often the origins of the friendly Armenian-Russian ties are recalled,” Yermak concluded.