Workgroup will Prepare Armenia-Iran Railway Construction Project

Yerevan, April 4, Noyan Tapan. The World economic and financial crisis
give rise to deepen and tighten bilateral relationship, which will
strengthen both Armenia’s and Iran’s resistibility to negative effect
of the crisis, said RA prime minister Tigran Sarkisian receipting on
April 3 the minister of roads and communications of Iran Hamid
Behbaham. In this context, putting the accent on RA President’s
upcoming official visit to Iran, the prime minister expressed
confidence, that the visit will assist in broadening the potential
programs foreseen between different economy sectors of two countries.
According to T.Sarkisian, the impelmentation of the certain projects in
energy, agriculture and other industries will promote the development
of economic cooperation between two countries. Cooperation with
Armenia, particularly in energy, transport, and other sectors of
economy are primary for Iran’s foreign economic relations, emphasized
Hamid Behbaham. In particular, the minister of Roads and communications
put the accent on Armenia-Iran Railway Construction among other
foreseen bilateral initiatives in transport sphere.

He told that during his visit he had work meetings with Armenia’s
ministers of energy, transport and communications, which resulted in
establishing a workgroup to carry out preparatory activities for the
mentioned project.

According to Behbaham, works can be implemented in three phases:
feasibility study, identification of funding sources, definition of the
most optimal direction and implementation of construction works. He
stressed, that Iran is ready to support at most to Armenia in all 3
phases in order to fulfill undertime that significant project. As
reports the Information and PR Department of the Government of RA,
T.Sargsyan articulated, that Armenia holds an interest in constructing
of a direct railway to Iran, the absence of which prevents from full
application of the whole potential of both sides. According to the
prime-minister, launching the Armenia-Iran railway will considerably
hange the current situation with the Armenia’s trade turnover and fuel
operations of many Armenian enterprises.