YEREVAN – PM Nikol Pashinyan said that Armenia is not planning any actions behind Russia’s back and remains ready to continue dialogue as long as opportunities for discussion remain open. He stated during a press briefing at the government building on Thursday.
He made the comment in response to a question about the possibility of transferring the management of Armenia’s railways from Russia to Kazakhstan.
“We are not preparing to do anything behind Russia’s back, and at least at this stage, while opportunities for dialogue remain broad and open, we will continue working in that direction,” the Prime Minister emphasized.
Pashinyan recalled that on February 13, he had said that a third country maintaining warm relations with both Armenia and Russia could potentially acquire the right to manage Armenia’s railway network. In his view, Kazakhstan could be one such country.
Speaking about regional transport routes, he noted that Kazakhstan—being a major player in international transit—has shown significant interest since August in Armenia’s Crossroads of Peace initiative.
According to Pashinyan, the Kazakh side is seeking a clearer understanding of the new transport opportunities that could open up, especially for the flow of goods coming from China.
He further stressed that the reliability and future prospects of the transport network cannot be imagined without close cooperation with neighboring countries, including Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, and Turkey.
The Prime Minister explained that if goods enter Armenia, there must also be guaranteed and reliable routes for them to leave the country; otherwise, no one would choose to ship cargo in that direction.
He added that major investors and large international players need to see firsthand that the peace agenda in Armenia is serious and deeply rooted, which would ensure the return on their investments.
Pashinyan also recalled that in December he had said Armenia was prepared to restore key sections of its railway infrastructure using its own resources if the Russian side failed to complete the work within a reasonable timeframe.
Under a 2008 agreement with Russia’s state-owned Russian Railways, Armenia transferred management of its railway network to the company for 30 years, with the option of a further 10-year extension. The Russian side committed to investing in infrastructure modernization, rolling stock renewal, and improved safety.
