ARMENIA-IRAN RAILWAY: PUBLICITY OR REALITY
James Hakobyan
lragir.am
16:09:14 – 20/04/2009
The conversations on the Iran – Armenia railway activated mostly
after Serge Sargsyan’s visit to Iran. As it is known, Armenia and Iran
signed a memorandum on the level of transport ministers in Yerevan,
and then did the same thing on the same level during Serge Sargsyan’s
visit to Iran. Why the double signing was needed is not clear. Maybe
the ceremony supposes it, or the double signing was needed in order
to attach more importance to the project.
Anyway, if the question was nearer to the practice flat, the sides
would probably focus their attention on practical steps, rather than
signing the same memorandum for several times. In other words, this
circumstance proves that the Armenian and Iranian railway construction
is being tried to be attached importance because the construction by
itself does not seem to have much importance. As the poet would say
"good stuff will be sold, and it is the bad to be publicized".
The Armenian and Iranian railway leaves the impression of a "bad
stuff". Anyway, although 2 memorandums have already been signed,
it is not known yet how much the railway will cost for the sides. 1
billion dollars is mentioned but in a very unclear way without saying
which system has in particular made this calculation. A working
group is also mentioned to work out the project basis of the railway
construction. If the project basis lacks how it is possible to say the
cost of the railway. Consequently, 1 billion is a very relative number.
Besides, the working term of the working group is said to be 3 years,
but during one of the TV reports on Serge Sargsyan’s visit to Iran,
the railway was mentioned to be ready after 5 years. Interestingly,
what it will be if the organizational works need more time than the
construction itself. However, the advertisement of the Armenian and
Iranian railway seems to be more than it is in reality.
This may prove also that the railway does not have any economic but
political reasons. In other words, the sides – Armenia and Iran may
build the station by their own efforts but they, at least one of them,
need the political assistance of the geopolitical centers, for which
the railway publicity is being made. None of the geopolitical centers
said anything firm in relation to the construction. The U.S. keeps
silence, Europe as well, China, to which Hovik Abrahamyan sent
the project of the railway which he procured from no one knows
where, is silent too, and even if Russia said something it was
more incomprehensible than the silence could be. Moreover, the
Russians lead concrete negotiations for the construction of the
Azerbaijan-Iran-Russia railway.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
