Turan Information Agency, Azerbaijani Opposition
 Wednesday


Opening of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Postponed



Baku / 19.07.17 / Turan: The opening of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway
will be postponed at least until the end of this year, Turan reports
referring to the results of the tripartite meeting of the heads of
customs services of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia in Baku.

Turkish Customs and Trade Minister Bulent Tufenkci noted that Turkey
plans to complete the construction of the Turkish part of the railway
by the end of 2017.

"Earlier there were some problems with the implementation of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project, but these problems are already behind, and
now the work continues in an enhanced mode," the Minister said.

Azerbaijan Railways CJSC reports today that on July 19 the works on
the implementation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line are
proceeding swiftly. The company shared video images reflecting the
work carried out on the railway.

The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project was signed on February 7, 2007 by
Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Mikhail Saakashvili and then Turkish Prime
Minister Erdogan. The foundation of the railway was laid on November
21 of the same year.

The promise of the opening of this railway in the middle of this year
was last given by the Minister of Transport, Communications and
Maritime Affairs of Turkey Ahmet Arslan.

According to the State Oil Fund, 619.8 million US dollars were
allocated for this project on October 1, 2016, including 31.5 million
US dollars during the 9 months of the last year. Azerbaijan is very
interested in the implementation of this project, since this railway
will bypass Armenia. That is why this project was not supported by
Western circles. The State Oil Fund is planning to allocate 165
million 825 thousand manat from this year's budget for this project.
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