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RUSSIA BACKING IRAN-ARMENIA RAIL LINK
Zawya
Nov 10 2008
United Arab Emirates
Russia could participate in the construction of a major railroad
linking Iran and Armenia, according to the president of Russia
Railroads.
President of Russia Railroads Vladimir Yakunin, said the company
is ready to participate in the construction of the rail line should
Iran, Armenia and Russia agree on the project's finance, Fars News
Agency reported.
Armenia's Transport and Communications Minister Gurgen Sargsyan
has said that the rail link would cost approximately $2 billion,
announcing that the World BankWorld Bank and Asian Development Bank
(ADB) have both shown interest in the project.
Armenia currently has only one working international rail link that
runs via Georgia, as rail tracks linking Turkey and Azerbaijan are
inactive.
Under Review
The proposed link would require around 80 kilometers of new railroad
construction in northwestern Iran, from the Armenian border on the
Aras River to the Iranian city of Marand where the track would be
connected to the Tabriz-Jolfa line.
The railroad, which has been discussed since initial proposals were
submitted in 2006, would be a major boost to the development of trade
between the two countries.
Armenia would also benefit from being able to use Iran as a transit
route for transport links with the rest of the world.
Sargsyan said the railroad's construction can take up to five years.
Presently, three projects are under review. The first originates
from Yeraskh, the second from Vardenis and the third from Gagarin,
extending for 443, 449 and 397 km respectively.
Armenia favors the project that starts from Gagarin and then through
Gavar, Martuni and Jermuk.
Advantageous
At a meeting in Sochi in September, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
discussed the project with his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisian
as part of a cooperation agreement between the two countries.
Russia Railroads' subsidiary South Caucasus Railroad took over the
operation of the Armenian rail network on June 1 under a 25-year
concession.
Iran and Armenia have agreed to set up a working group, in which the
Russians may be invited to participate.
ADB has allocated about $1.5 million to finance feasibility studies on
Armenia's ambitious plans to build a railroad linking neighboring Iran,
Yerevan's Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian said. "By the middle of next
year, we will be able to approve business approaches, calculations
of cost-effectiveness and to present documents prepared by the Asian
Development Bank to the private sector, which could also participate
in the project," Sarkisian added.
In an apparent reference to Russia, Sarkisian said Armenia's "strategic
partners" can also finance the railroad's construction.
"I hope that we will be able to report next year serious progress in
this sphere," he said.
The project has for years been discussed by the Armenian and Iranian
governments. The Armenian authorities have recently signaled their
desire to finally get it off the drawing board, with Sarkisian
declaring its implementation as one of his administration's top
economic priorities.
Armenia considers Russia as well as international lending institutions
like the World BankWorld Bank as potential sources of funding for
the project.
The lack of a rail link between Armenia and Iran is a major obstacle
to the expansion of bilateral trade.
Officials of the three countries should realize the advantages of
the proposed railroad for themselves as well as the region, and make
concerted efforts for implementing the project as soon as possible.
Zawya
Nov 10 2008
United Arab Emirates
Russia could participate in the construction of a major railroad
linking Iran and Armenia, according to the president of Russia
Railroads.
President of Russia Railroads Vladimir Yakunin, said the company
is ready to participate in the construction of the rail line should
Iran, Armenia and Russia agree on the project's finance, Fars News
Agency reported.
Armenia's Transport and Communications Minister Gurgen Sargsyan
has said that the rail link would cost approximately $2 billion,
announcing that the World BankWorld Bank and Asian Development Bank
(ADB) have both shown interest in the project.
Armenia currently has only one working international rail link that
runs via Georgia, as rail tracks linking Turkey and Azerbaijan are
inactive.
Under Review
The proposed link would require around 80 kilometers of new railroad
construction in northwestern Iran, from the Armenian border on the
Aras River to the Iranian city of Marand where the track would be
connected to the Tabriz-Jolfa line.
The railroad, which has been discussed since initial proposals were
submitted in 2006, would be a major boost to the development of trade
between the two countries.
Armenia would also benefit from being able to use Iran as a transit
route for transport links with the rest of the world.
Sargsyan said the railroad's construction can take up to five years.
Presently, three projects are under review. The first originates
from Yeraskh, the second from Vardenis and the third from Gagarin,
extending for 443, 449 and 397 km respectively.
Armenia favors the project that starts from Gagarin and then through
Gavar, Martuni and Jermuk.
Advantageous
At a meeting in Sochi in September, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
discussed the project with his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisian
as part of a cooperation agreement between the two countries.
Russia Railroads' subsidiary South Caucasus Railroad took over the
operation of the Armenian rail network on June 1 under a 25-year
concession.
Iran and Armenia have agreed to set up a working group, in which the
Russians may be invited to participate.
ADB has allocated about $1.5 million to finance feasibility studies on
Armenia's ambitious plans to build a railroad linking neighboring Iran,
Yerevan's Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian said. "By the middle of next
year, we will be able to approve business approaches, calculations
of cost-effectiveness and to present documents prepared by the Asian
Development Bank to the private sector, which could also participate
in the project," Sarkisian added.
In an apparent reference to Russia, Sarkisian said Armenia's "strategic
partners" can also finance the railroad's construction.
"I hope that we will be able to report next year serious progress in
this sphere," he said.
The project has for years been discussed by the Armenian and Iranian
governments. The Armenian authorities have recently signaled their
desire to finally get it off the drawing board, with Sarkisian
declaring its implementation as one of his administration's top
economic priorities.
Armenia considers Russia as well as international lending institutions
like the World BankWorld Bank as potential sources of funding for
the project.
The lack of a rail link between Armenia and Iran is a major obstacle
to the expansion of bilateral trade.
Officials of the three countries should realize the advantages of
the proposed railroad for themselves as well as the region, and make
concerted efforts for implementing the project as soon as possible.