IRAN, ARMENIA TO WORK ON JOINT RAILWAY PROJECT

Persian Journal, Iran
Sept 29 2005

Sep 28, 2005

The official in charge of the Public Relations Department of Armenia’s
Ministry of Transport, Arthur Sarkisian, said on Wednesday that the new
government in his country will examine a new project on Armenia-Iran
railway track.

Speaking at the joint meeting of the “UN Economic and Social Commission
for Asia and Pacific Affairs” and “Russia’s Railway Company”, he
added that the new railway line will connect Armenia to Iran without
passing through Turkey and Azerbaijan.

He noted that at present the technical and economic dimensions of the
project are being assessed and that the prospect of connecting it to
the railways of Georgia, Abkhazia and Russia is likely to be examined.

Turning to Armenia’s geopolitical position, he said that given his
country is situated at the intersection of North-South and East-West
corridors, its transport facilities can help develop these corridors.

Referring to Armenia’s political discord with Azerbaijan and
Turkey, Sarkisian noted that using such facilities will cause many
difficulties.

The railway connection from Armenia to Azerbaijan has practically been
disrupted since disintegration of the ex-Soviet Union in early 1990s.

Meanwhile, Iran-Armenia railway connection has also been disrupted on
account of breakout of relations between Armenia and the Autonomous
Republic of Nakhichevan.