The opening of railway communication between Russia and Armenia via the territories of Azerbaijan and Georgia has become a real contribution to establishing peace in the South Caucasus, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk told reporters, TASS reports.

Earlier, for the first time, a shipment of wheat grain was delivered from Russia to Armenia via the new transport route. “We welcome the launch of railway communication between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia through the territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Georgia,” the Russian deputy PM said.

He noted that this is the first time since the independence of Armenia — in 1991 — that direct railway communication has been established between the two countries. According to Overchuk, this event “has become a real, tangible contribution to establishing peace in the South Caucasus” and also demonstrates Russia’s work for regional stability and the economic development of all countries in the region.

Overchuk said that this new route strengthens Russia’s transport connections with regional countries, increases Armenia’s access to markets for goods coming from other member states of the Eurasian Economic Union, and improves access for Armenia’s producers to the markets of that union.

“It is symbolic that the first cargo transported along this route was Russian wheat grain, one of the most important symbols of life and creation, which once again emphasizes the shared aspiration to establish peace in the South Caucasus, to move from conflict to cooperation,” Overchuk added.

According to him, the opening of this new railway route is the result of agreements reached by the leaders of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan in 2020 and 2021, as well as the efforts of the trilateral working group chaired jointly by the deputy prime ministers of the three countries. “I would like to thank my colleagues, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev and Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Mher Grigoryan, for the joint work on unblocking transport links in the South Caucasus region, as well as Georgia for its constructive participation in organizing transport along this route,” concluded the Russian deputy premier.