Russian Railways to Pursue Plan on Greek Assets Privatization

Russia's largest railway company, Russian Railways, will pursue its plans to acquire newly privatized assets in Greece, despite the current situation in the debt-ridden country, company head Vladimir Yakunin told reporters Wednesday.

UFA (Sputnik) — Russian Railways is taking part in a tender for the privatization of three Greek assets: railway operator Trainose, the rolling stock operating company Rosco, and the port of Thessaloniki.

"We are in a general course of cooperation, positions are reported, Greeks are thinking about it, but they have another problem now," Yakunin said, answering a question on how the economic situation in Greece might affect the company's plans there.

Greece's overall debt stands at about $350 billion, of which $270 billion is owed to the European Central Bank, the International Monetary Fund and some Eurozone countries

Greece still has no agreement with its international creditors on a new bailout deal for the country. The Greek people rejected proposals by the country's major creditors to increase taxes and cut social spending in a referendum on July 5, raising concerns about Greece's possible exit from the Eurozone.

Yakunin expressed confidence that the international leaders would prevent Greece from leaving the monetary union.

Earlier in June, the head of Russian Railways held a meeting with Greek Economy Minister Giorgos Stathakis on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg Economic Forum to discuss the privatization of Greek infrastructure assets. Stathakis said that Athens would announce its final decision soon.