March 24, 2005 - 06:11 AMT
FIRST TRAIN-FERRY WITH LOAD FOR ARMENIA LEFT RUSSIA FOR GEORGIA
Yesterday first train ferry with load destined for Armenia left Kavkaz port (Russia) for Poti port (Georgia), the Ministry of Transport of Russia reported. The first run is made by Annenkov train ferry with 18 cars charged with grain and corn. The second run, also with grain, is planned in the beginning of the next week. The agreement on opening the train ferry passage between Kavkaz port (Russia, Krasnodar Territory) and Poti (Georgia) was signed in Tbilisi January 10, 2005. The parties also signed agreements on the rules of transportation and temporary rules of exploitation of the passage. The opening of the ferry traffic through the Black and Azov Seas is specifically important in the conditions of absence of land rail communication between Georgia and Russia in the past 12 years. It was suspended in August 1992 after the beginning of the armed conflict in Abkhazia. Not only Georgia and Russia will make use of the Poti-Kavkaz passage, but also Armenia, Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries.