PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the government is ready to reclaim certain railway sections from Russian concession management and carry out repairs using its own funds.

Speaking to journalists about his meeting with the Russian president, Pashinyan said Armenia considers it important at this stage to restore the Tavush section up to and including the Ijevan railway station, Panorama.am reports.

He also mentioned the restoration of the operating railway section from the Armenia-Turkey border to Akhurik, as well as repair works from the Armenia-Azerbaijan border with Nakhchivan to Yeraskh.

Pashinyan expressed hope that Russian partners would carry out the work as quickly as possible.

"If any obstacle arises or any other issue emerges, given that these sections are under Russian concession, I have also expressed our readiness for the Armenian government to take these sections back from the concession and carry out the restoration using state budget funds, should it become clear that Russia has difficulties completing the work within an appropriate timeframe or sees any issues," he said.

At a previous briefing, Pashinyan said he had appealed to Russia for the urgent restoration of several railway sections leading to Azerbaijan and Turkey. On December 22, he met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, where these issues were also discussed. Armenia's railways have been managed since 2008 by South Caucasus Railway CJSC, a subsidiary of Russian Railways.

Source: PanArmenian.Net