MINISTER: ARMENIA TO START SEARCHING FUNDS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF IRAN-ARMENIA RAILWAY

ARKA
Dec 23, 2008

YEREVAN, December 23. /ARKA/. Armenia is to embark on searching for
funds for construction of Iran-Armenia railway, Armenian Transport
and Communication Minister Gurgen Sargsyan said at a press conference
on Tuesday.

He said that Armenian Government views the construction of this
railway among its top-priority focuses.

"This idea has already developed into a program, and we’ll keep
negotiating over technical aspect and scheme and searching for
financial sources in 2009", the minister said.

Preliminary assessment showed that the construction would cost
$2 billion.

World Bank and Asian Development Bank express interest in the project.

One route, Jermuk-Meghri, has already been outlined. Other routes
are under discussion now, though it is expected that the railway will
include also Sisian and Kapan.

About 100 kilometers of the railway are expected to be laid on Iran’s
territory – from Armenian border to Merand railway station.

Specialists say such a work takes five to six years.

Yerevan-Yeraskh-Nakhichevan (Azerbaijan)-Meghri, the soviet-era railway
connecting Armenia and Iran, stays dilapidated and dysfunctional now.

The new rout will go only through Armenia’s territory.

The railway will provide an alternative way to Armenia for shipping
energy resources and other commodities.

Now Armenia transports its cargoes through Georgia.