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Russian transit critically important for Latvian economy — Riga mayor

In mid-August, acting chairman of the board of the Latvian Railways company (Latvijas Dzelzcels) Aivars Straksas said that the transit of Russian cargoes through Latvia might be restricted

RIGA, September 7. /TASS/. The situation with the transit of cargo remains the most painful economic issue on the bilateral agenda, Riga mayor Nil Ushakov told TASS in an exclusive interview on Monday. "The transit is critically important for the economy of Riga and Latvia," he said.

"We are very concerned over everything linked with the transit and with Riga’s free port where a total of 20,000 people are working, and 8,000 people are employed in the railway. We hope that no transit restrictions will be introduced. We’d like to hope," Ushakov added.

In mid-August, acting chairman of the board of the Latvian Railways company (Latvijas Dzelzcels) Aivars Straksas said that the transit of Russian cargoes through Latvia might be restricted for two months because of the repair of rail tracks on the Russian side. Latvian Transport Minister Anrijs Matiss later said after negotiations with Russian Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov that all economic obligations on the Russian transit remained in force.

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