Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced Thursday that the Russian Railway Company has assured that it will repair the railway tracks that were damaged in last weekend’s deadly floods in Armenia’s Lori and Tavush provinces.
Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan contacted the railway company and what Pashinyan said “Russian colleagues” to receive the assurances of a timely repair of the key rail link in the region.
Armenia’s Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Minister Gnel Sanosyan reported to the cabinet that it will take a long time to restore the railway from Ayrum Station to Alaverdi city.
“The railway is damaged in Georgia also. I spoke with the Deputy Prime Minister of Georgia, the railway will work by Tuesday,” Sanosyan added, in particular.
According to him, about 250 volunteers are currently working in Alaverdi.
Heavy rainfall unleashed floods on Saturday, as a result of which four residents died. The floods also caused significant damage in the affected areas, including to 15 bridges.
“I think that we should ask our [international] partners to provide concrete assistance, especially in the field of bridge construction,” Pashinyan said in response to Sanosyan’s briefing during Thursday’s cabinet meeting.
Pashinyan and Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said that some of those partners have already expressed readiness to assist Armenia in the post-flood reconstruction.
“We need to clarify as quickly as possible what exactly we expect from international partners,” Mirzoyan said, urging Sanosyan’s ministry to come up with relevant proposals.
Meanwhile, Russia said it is ready to help Armenia in the restoration of flood affected areas.
“We have seen a positive response, and we repeat that all proposals are relevant… And as allies, we are always ready to lend a hand based on the needs of Yerevan,” Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said during a press briefing on Thursday.
She added that the Russian-Armenian Center for Humanitarian Response had immediately joined the relief efforts and transferred the necessary equipment to the Armenian authorities.
Zakharova said that the Russia’s Defense Ministry has also offered help through its 102nd military base in Gyumri.
A number of Russian companies operating in Armenia—in particular, the South Caucasus Railway company which serves the Yerevan-Tbilisi route—are also discussing the matter of providing assistance.
“These days we are actively engaged in restarting railway transport. Specialists with various backgrounds and expertise were sent to the location. Together with the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, they are looking for solutions to complex problems,” Zakharova explained.
