MEMORANDUM OF THE GEORGIAN-RUSSIAN WORKING GROUP MEETING FOR SOCHI-TBILISI THROUGH RAILWAY TRAFFIC REHABILITATION

Tbilisi, 26 June 2003

With the purpose of implementing Sochi agreements of 6-7 March 2003 between the Presidents of Georgia and the Russian Federation, the second meeting of the Georgian-Russian Working Group for Rehabilitation of the Sochi-Tbilisi Through Railway Traffic was held in Tbilisi on 26 June 2003 (attended by representatives of the OSCE Mission to Georgia).

A list of the meeting participants is enclosed.

During the meeting the parties noted that rehabilitation of the Sochi-Tbilisi through railway traffic would promote peaceful political resolution of the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia.

The Georgian side mentioned that implementation of the Sochi-Tbilisi Through Railway Traffic Rehabilitation Project would be possible provided that the issue of refugee return to Abkhazia, Georgia, were resolved.

The Russian side confirmed that the direct railway communication between Sochi and Tbilisi would be launched in parallel with the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, first of all, to the district of Gali.

When implementing the proposals presented by the Russian side in letter CID 71/10 at the first meeting of the Working Group in Moscow on 30 May 2003, the Parties agreed as follows:

1.1. Georgian and Russian expert teams shall be set up, including approximately 10 experts from each party, with participation of representatives from the Abkhazian side, to conduct preliminary study of the Veseloe-Samtredia section.

1.2. Within two weeks, the parties shall exchange lists of proposed expert group members, with indication of expert specialties.

2. The parties noted the importance of providing respective security condition to starting the studies of the Veseloe-Samtredia section, and agreed to work through the issue by the next meeting.

3. The parties invited the representative of the OSCE Mission to Georgia to take active part in these processes.

4. Funds for the expert group activities shall be provided according to the following principle:

for Georgia specialists – by Georgia;

for Russian specialists – by Russia.

5. The Russian side requested the Georgian side to:

- provide available documentation on railway facilities on the Veseloe-Samtredia section;

- provide information about forecasted volume of freight traffic on this railway to study economic feasibility of the project.

6. The Georgian side proposed holding regular meetings of the Georgian-Russian working group in Tbilisi and Sukhumi tentatively in July 2003, with participation of representatives of Abkhazia, Georgia. The Georgian and Russian sides shall discuss with the Abkhazian side the possibility of holding the meetings.

The meeting was held in business-like and constructive environment.

On behalf of the Georgian side

G. D. Nizharadze

On behalf of the Russian side

V. N. Sazonov

(Archive of the Georgian Ministry of Economic Development)