YEREVAN-BATUMI TRAIN DEPARTS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000838

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL GG AM
SUBJECT: YEREVAN-BATUMI TRAIN DEPARTS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN
14 YEARS



1. A train departed Yerevan for the Georgian Black Sea resort
town of Batumi on June 17, marking the first train service
between the Armenian capital and the autonomous region of
Adjara in 14 years. According to press reports quoting
Georgian Minister of Economic Development Irakli Chogovadze,
Adjara expects 50,000 Armenians visitors this year, up from
20,000 last year. Chogovadze was in town to mark the renewal
of the passenger train service, which is scheduled to run
until September 15. According to press reports, Chogovadze
and Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian said they were
optimistic that the rail link would stimulate cooperation
between Armenia and Georgia. Margarian said he plans to
visit Adjara in July.


2. Margarian and Chogovadze are joined in their enthusiasm by
an optimistic (and perhaps self-serving) representative of
Armenia's tourist industry. "Tourism is the sector that
unites," said Araik Vardanian, the Executive Director of the
Union of Incoming Tour Operators of Armenia, during a seminar
on Armenian-Georgian relations last week. He noted that the
tourism sector could be the key to the improvement of
Armenian-Georgian relations. (Note: Vardanian is probably
overstating the case, but it is true that Batumi is a popular
destination for landlocked Armenians. During the Soviet era,
Batumi and the rest of the Georgian Black Sea coast was a
favorite vacation spot for apparatchiks and workers alike.
After the fall of the USSR, Armenian tourism to Batumi and
nearby Kobuleti slowed down, and has only begun to pick up in
the last four or five years. Batumi is the nearest, cheapest
option for a real seaside vacation for Armenians. End Note.)
EVANS