ARMENIA, IRAN SIGN DEAL TO BUILD STRATEGIC RAIL LINK
RIA Novosti
20:59 | 15/ 04/ 2009
YEREVAN, April 15 (RIA Novosti) – The Armenian and Iranian transport
ministers signed on Wednesday an agreement to build a railway linking
Armenia with Iran’s Persian Gulf ports, the Armenian TV5 channel
reported.
The construction of the 470-kilometer long railway, with 410 kilometers
passing through Armenian territory, is expected to last for at least
five years and to cost $1.5-$1.8 billion.
"It is difficult to estimate the cost as the length of the tunnel has
not been determined and the construction of a tunnel is relatively
expensive," Armenian Transport Minister Gurgen Sargsyan said.
Landlocked Armenia, currently under economic blockade by neighboring
Turkey and Azerbaijan, has railway links with other countries only
through Georgia.
A memorandum of understanding on the strategic route was signed by
Sargsyan and his Iranian counterpart, Hamid Behbahani, on April 3. A
working group will take about three months to do a feasibility study,
Sargsyan said on Wednesday.
The railway connecting the northern Armenian city of Sevan to the
southern city of Meghri, bordering Iran, will ensure the transportation
of energy supplies and other goods, and increase trade between the
countries.