AZG Armenian Daily #167, 13/09/2008

Armenia-Turkey

TURKISH TRANSPORT MINISTER: BAKU-TBILISI-KARS NOT MEANT TO EXCLUDE
ARMENIA

A railway project linking Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia is not meant
to exclude neighboring Armenia, with which Turkey has no formal ties,
Turkish Minister of Transport Binali Yildirim said September 11,
according to PanArmenian.net. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars bypasses Russia
and Armenia. The railway, which is scheduled to be completed in 2011,
will not only link the three countries but will also revive the
historic Silk Road trade route that once connected Asia with
Europe. "The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway is by no means a project
excluding Armenia," Yildirim told reporters. "This is an international
project aimed at boosting international trade and tourism, and it is
quite possible that other countries may also join. Russia, Greece and
Iran could join. It is not confined to Turkey and Azerbaijan alone,"
he added, Zaman reported.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress