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RAILWAY TO LINK IRAN, ARMENIA TO BLACK SEA
PRESS TV
April 4 2009
Iran
Iranian Minister of Road and Transportation Hamid Behbahani, (l),
meets Armenian counterpart Gurgen Sargsian
Iran and Armenia have agreed to build a railway that would connect
the two neighboring countries and boosts economic cooperation.
Iranian Minister of Road and Transportation Hamid Behbahani said that
the construction of the 470-kilometer (292-mile) railway, the bulk
of it passing through Armenian territory, would take at least five
years and cost up to USD 1.2 billion (892 million euros).
"The railway construction will amount to a restoration of the historic
Silk Road," he said.
Behbahani, who signed a memorandum of understanding with his Armenian
counter part Gurgen Sargsian, said on Friday that the two hope to
attract much of the required funding from the World Bank and the
Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The railway is especially important to Yerevan as it would connect
the northern lake city of Sevan to the southern city of Meghri,
which borders Iran.
For his part, the Armenian official said, "The railway will ensure
transport links from South and Central Asia, the Far East, through
Iran and Armenia's territory towards Georgia's Black Sea ports,"
a move that enhances trade volume between the two country.
The final version of the document would be signed during Armenian
President Serzh Sarkisian's upcoming visit to Tehran.
Armenian-Iranian trade amounted to a modest USD 226.6 million last
year. The amount is expected to rise sharply when the railway is
completed.
PRESS TV
April 4 2009
Iran
Iranian Minister of Road and Transportation Hamid Behbahani, (l),
meets Armenian counterpart Gurgen Sargsian
Iran and Armenia have agreed to build a railway that would connect
the two neighboring countries and boosts economic cooperation.
Iranian Minister of Road and Transportation Hamid Behbahani said that
the construction of the 470-kilometer (292-mile) railway, the bulk
of it passing through Armenian territory, would take at least five
years and cost up to USD 1.2 billion (892 million euros).
"The railway construction will amount to a restoration of the historic
Silk Road," he said.
Behbahani, who signed a memorandum of understanding with his Armenian
counter part Gurgen Sargsian, said on Friday that the two hope to
attract much of the required funding from the World Bank and the
Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The railway is especially important to Yerevan as it would connect
the northern lake city of Sevan to the southern city of Meghri,
which borders Iran.
For his part, the Armenian official said, "The railway will ensure
transport links from South and Central Asia, the Far East, through
Iran and Armenia's territory towards Georgia's Black Sea ports,"
a move that enhances trade volume between the two country.
The final version of the document would be signed during Armenian
President Serzh Sarkisian's upcoming visit to Tehran.
Armenian-Iranian trade amounted to a modest USD 226.6 million last
year. The amount is expected to rise sharply when the railway is
completed.