01 February 2009
A railway that will join Iran and Armenia appears to be nearing reality. Armenian authorities say the Iran-Armenia railway is the government's top priority, as the crucial communication route will provide land-locked and border-restricted Armenia with a link to the outside world that is currently severely missing.
Experts on trade communication say the complex geopolitical and economic realities of the region and indeed the world have caused official Yerevan to fast-track negotiations.
"The railway has a strategic importance for Armenia and we should have launched its construction shortly after the country gained independence," Garnik Asatryan, chair of the Department of Iranian Studies, Yerevan State University, told ArmeniaNow.com
Foreign Investment
According to preliminary calculations, the railway construction may cost around $2 billion and will last five years. The railway will be 540 km long, with 480 km of the main line passing trough Armenia's territory, RA Deputy Minister of Transport Hrant Beglaryan said, citing the project's feasibility.
Pending results of the study, construction of Armenia's section could begin mid-year.
"If Armenia implements its part of the agreement, the Iranian railways will have no difficulty building a 60 kilometer-long section," the minister said in an interview with Gudok, the official newspaper of the Russian Railways.
Director of Iran Railways Hassan Ziyari said his side stands ready to participate in the railway construction. Emphasizing the project's importance for Armenia and Iran, he said it is among Iran's top priorities.
There are three possible routes for the railways, Armenian Minister of Transport Gurgen Sargsyan said.
"The most preferable for Armenia is the route which starts from Gagarin's village (from the existing railway station Gegharkunic province), then will go through towns Gavar, Martuni to Jermuk (Vayots Dzor province), then to Meghri (Syunic province, border with Iran). The remaining 60 km of railway will pass through Iran territory," he added.
Experts say the two major hindrances for the project are the US barrier and lack of funds. They believe US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's statement during the January 13 Senate hearings about the US administration considering a new approach to relations with Tehran has made Armenia more optimistic about the project.
"I don't think we have any problems with the US. Washington has never hindered Armenia's relations with Iran. Moreover, Armenia is the only country in the region in this context," said Sergey Minasyan, deputy director of the Caucasus Institute.
According to Armenia's Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, the Asian Bank for Development (ADB) has allocated around $1.5 million for Iran-Armenia railway's feasibility study.
According to Minasyan, the government's priority task is to attract foreign investments to implement the project.
He said, "The Armenian government must arouse the interest of offshore investors. China and ADB are among potential investors and this may herald a new Silk Route."
The Silk Road is the trade network of 7000 km, existed till the XVI century, connecting Eurasian counties, from Western Europe to China.
Russian Interest
Russia is likely to take a keen interest in the project, taking into account that the Russian Railways is the operator of the Armenian Railway.
"If the financial crisis did not hit the global economy, Russia would obviously take an active participation in the project. Since the Russian Railways is the concessionaire of the Armenian Railway, Moscow is to render a financial assistance to the project by all means," Minasyan said.
According to professor Asatryan, no matter how attractive, Armenia's neighbors are unlikely to support the project, as it contradicts their political interests.
"This grants Armenia a direct access to the outside world, particularly to the Persian Gulf," Asatryan said, adding that Turkey, Georgia and Russia are unlikely to hold Armenia's interests (although the Russians will operate the line).
Also according to Armenia's premier, the best time to launch the railway construction is late this year, although everything depends on the project's feasibility study.
A railway that will join Iran and Armenia appears to be nearing reality. Armenian authorities say the Iran-Armenia railway is the government's top priority, as the crucial communication route will provide land-locked and border-restricted Armenia with a link to the outside world that is currently severely missing.
Experts on trade communication say the complex geopolitical and economic realities of the region and indeed the world have caused official Yerevan to fast-track negotiations.
"The railway has a strategic importance for Armenia and we should have launched its construction shortly after the country gained independence," Garnik Asatryan, chair of the Department of Iranian Studies, Yerevan State University, told ArmeniaNow.com
Foreign Investment
According to preliminary calculations, the railway construction may cost around $2 billion and will last five years. The railway will be 540 km long, with 480 km of the main line passing trough Armenia's territory, RA Deputy Minister of Transport Hrant Beglaryan said, citing the project's feasibility.
Pending results of the study, construction of Armenia's section could begin mid-year.
"If Armenia implements its part of the agreement, the Iranian railways will have no difficulty building a 60 kilometer-long section," the minister said in an interview with Gudok, the official newspaper of the Russian Railways.
Director of Iran Railways Hassan Ziyari said his side stands ready to participate in the railway construction. Emphasizing the project's importance for Armenia and Iran, he said it is among Iran's top priorities.
There are three possible routes for the railways, Armenian Minister of Transport Gurgen Sargsyan said.
"The most preferable for Armenia is the route which starts from Gagarin's village (from the existing railway station Gegharkunic province), then will go through towns Gavar, Martuni to Jermuk (Vayots Dzor province), then to Meghri (Syunic province, border with Iran). The remaining 60 km of railway will pass through Iran territory," he added.
Experts say the two major hindrances for the project are the US barrier and lack of funds. They believe US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's statement during the January 13 Senate hearings about the US administration considering a new approach to relations with Tehran has made Armenia more optimistic about the project.
"I don't think we have any problems with the US. Washington has never hindered Armenia's relations with Iran. Moreover, Armenia is the only country in the region in this context," said Sergey Minasyan, deputy director of the Caucasus Institute.
According to Armenia's Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, the Asian Bank for Development (ADB) has allocated around $1.5 million for Iran-Armenia railway's feasibility study.
According to Minasyan, the government's priority task is to attract foreign investments to implement the project.
He said, "The Armenian government must arouse the interest of offshore investors. China and ADB are among potential investors and this may herald a new Silk Route."
The Silk Road is the trade network of 7000 km, existed till the XVI century, connecting Eurasian counties, from Western Europe to China.
Russian Interest
Russia is likely to take a keen interest in the project, taking into account that the Russian Railways is the operator of the Armenian Railway.
"If the financial crisis did not hit the global economy, Russia would obviously take an active participation in the project. Since the Russian Railways is the concessionaire of the Armenian Railway, Moscow is to render a financial assistance to the project by all means," Minasyan said.
According to professor Asatryan, no matter how attractive, Armenia's neighbors are unlikely to support the project, as it contradicts their political interests.
"This grants Armenia a direct access to the outside world, particularly to the Persian Gulf," Asatryan said, adding that Turkey, Georgia and Russia are unlikely to hold Armenia's interests (although the Russians will operate the line).
Also according to Armenia's premier, the best time to launch the railway construction is late this year, although everything depends on the project's feasibility study.
© Iran Daily 2009
