PRIME MINISTER: IRAN-ARMENIA RAILWAY CAN CHANGE GEOPOLITICAL THINGS OF WHOLE REGION

ARKA
Oct 13, 2009

YEREVAN, October 13. /ARKA/. Iran-Armenia railway can change
geopolitical things in the whole region, Armenian Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan said Tuesday at the joint conference Russian RIA
Novosti and Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University held to discuss
security in the South Caucasus.

"This project is estimated to cost $1 billion. On ne hand, these
expenses diversify our opportunities and lessen dependence on Turkey,
and on the other hand, they make behavior of Turkey and Georgia
more predictable."

The premier said that Armenia and Iran have already set up a group
for implementing this project.

Armenian and Iranian deputy transport ministers and representatives
of Russian Railways will deal with the matter.

Sargsyan said that the railway will be constructed in very complicated
mountainous terrain.

The new railway will come as an alternative gateway to the world.

Now Armenia has railway access to foreign countries only through
Georgia’s territory.