ARMENIA-IRAN RAILWAY OPPORTUNITY FOR ARMENIA TO PARTICIPATE IN SYSTEM OF GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURES IN FUTURE: YSU PROFESSOR

ArmInfo
2009-05-21 13:07:00

ArmInfo. Construction of Armenia-Iran railway will make it possible
for Armenia to participate in the System of Global Infrastructures in
future, David Hovhannissyan, Professor of Yerevan State University,
Specialist in Oriental Studies, ex-Ambassador of Armenia to Syria,
told ArmInfo.

‘The construction of the railway cost 1.5 billion dollars linking
Armenia and Iran whose annual commodity turnover does not exceed 227
million dollars seems to have no prospects. However, this project
implies longer-term prospects’, he said.

The professor highlighted the possible place Armenia may have in the
System of Global Infrastructures in case the railway linking it with
Iran is built.

‘Since Kazakhstan already has a railway to Iran via Turkmenistan,
a similar railway linking Armenia with the Middle Asia via Iran will
significantly change the geopolitical component in the region and
bring Armenia an access to the system of ‘three seas’bordering the
South Caucasus and West Asia’, the professor said.

There are three versions of Iran-Armenia railway construction. The
first implies start from Yeraskh station, the second from Vardenis and
the third from the border up to Gagarin station. The three projects
have different lengths: 443 km, 447km, and 397 km, respectively.

Their costs are also different. The project starting from the border
leading to Jermuk and then via Selim Pass to Martuni, then to Gagarin
station and farther to Javakhq is the best for Armenia. It is the
longest way of 447 km.

The project implies parallel railway and motorway. The project is
estimated at $1.5-2 billion.