TendersInfo
August 7, 2009 Friday
Armenia : Baku-Kars Railway Construction to End in 2012
The legislation prohibiting funding for a railroad linking Turkey,
Azerbaijan and Georgia while bypassing Armenia was signed into law as
part of a comprehensive measure known as the Export-Import Bank
Reauthorization Act of 2006, the Armenian Assembly of America informs.
The legislation included an amendment by Senators Robert Menendez
(D-NJ) and Rick Santorum (R-PA) ensuring that no Export-Import funding
is used for a rail line, which seeks to isolate Armenia from economic,
and regional transportation corridors. The provision mirrors the South
Caucasus Integration and Open Railroads Act, which was introduced in
both Houses with the support of the Armenian Assembly…
August 2009 – /asbarez.am/ BAKU (Combined Sources) Georgian and Azeri
officials Monday said that despite some delays, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars
railway, which was slated to be operational by 2010, will be completed
by 2012.
The railway, a joint project between Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan,
envisions linking the three countries and provide a transport route to
Turkey from Central Asia and Asia. The proposed project was initiated
when US and European countries refused to finance similar projects,
citing the exclusion of Armenia from the route.
Construction of the railway began in November 2007, with Turkey and
Azerbaijan both funding the route in their respective countries and
Azerbaijan providing a $200 million loan to Georgia for the
construction of the 29-kilometer that will stretch through Georgia.
Bidzina Bregadze, Director of Georgia s Marabda-Kartsahi Railway
Company said that recent events in Georgia, including last year s war
with Russia had impeded the transfer of funds and slowed down the
process.
There also appeared to be technical problems forcing the rail link to
be rerouted since an original tunnel site was identified as an
avalanche route and deemed dangerous.
The 76-kilometer railway is estimated to cost $600 million.
The Georgian stretch of the railroad will go through the
predominantly-Armenian region of Akhalkalak in Samtskhe Javakheti.