Friday, 28 October 2011
CIS Railways Transport Council 55th Sitting Kicks Off In Yerevan
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan attended the 55th two-day sitting of CIS Railways Transport Council at the Government’s Reception House.
Welcoming the participants, the Prime Minister said railway transport problems are the center of his government’s attention. “The railway project to bridge the country’s south with other destinations is a government priority and a strategic task. We seek to raise the level of railway-borne passenger and commodity traffic,” Tigran Sargsyan said noting the importance of cooperation in the CIS format. “It is our belief that deeper integration between the railway networks of our countries is the key o economic growth.”
In this connection, the Prime Minister stressed that supports the CIS member-States’ strategic transport development plan for the period up till transport, which was adopted on October 18 at the Saint Petersburg meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Government. The Prime Minister stressed that Armenia intends to take all necessary steps to complete this project
Noting that the concept seeks to ensure the design of strategic programs, the head of government said it provides for the expansion of international transport corridors, infrastructure development, high-speed railway development, the provision of technical standards and processes.
The head of government said railway traffic has been on the upgrade since South Caucasus Railway assumed the management of the Armenian Railway 3 years ago: “At the same time, we cannot afford resting on the today’s achievements as Armenia has set itself the difficult task of making its railways to comply with best international standards.”
Concerning Armenia’s economic performance, he advised that the home economy grew 5% over the past nine months of 2011 mainly due to the dynamics of multilateral trade with partner countries and to the government’s sound economic policy.
Noting that foreign trade turnover rose by 25% in the first eight months of this year, consisting of 30% growth in exports and 17% increase in imports, Tigran Sargsyan stressed that the stated growth was also due to the rise in railway traffic.
The Prime Minister appreciated the contribution of “Russian railroads” CEO Vladimir Yakunin to our country’s railway development, stressing his share in the development of the cooperation between CIS member-States.
CIS Railway Transport Council’s 55th two-day meeting will discuss the implementation of decisions adopted during the previous sitting, railroad traffic standards for 2012-2013, as well as international freight tariff policy issues.
Board members are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine. Associated members are Bulgaria, Georgia, Latvia and Finland. On a contractual basis, the proceedings are joined by Lithuania and Estonia. The status of observer is allowed for the International Trade Union Confederation of Railway Workers and Transport Constructors.
