  Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway construction slows downJuly 25, 2009 - 13:49 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Azerbaijan has provided only 27,1 million manats (AZN) out of $200 million meant for construction of the Georgian sector of Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway, said Shahmar Movsumov, executive director of State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan."The small amount of the transfer is conditioned by slackened construction speed," he said, adding that that the works should be intensified in the near future. The Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway, or Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway, is a regional rail link project to directly connect Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan. The project was due to be completed by 2010. In total 98 kilometers (61 mi) of new line will be built between Kars and Akhalkalaki, with 68 kilometers (42 mi) within Turkey and 30 kilometers (19 mi) in Georgia. The existing line from Akhalkalaki on to Tbilisi and Baku will be modernized. The new railway link is intended to provide an alternative route to the existing Kars-Gyumri-Akhalkalaki railway line which has been out of use since 1993, when Turkey closed its border with Armenia to support Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia following the Nagorno Karabakh War. A multi-lateral accord to build the link was signed by the three countries in January 2005, but the European Union and the United States have said they will not assist in promoting or developing the line because it is designed to bypass Armenia. For the construction of the railroad on Georgian territory, Azerbaijan is providing a US$220 million loan, repayable in 25 years, with an annual interest rate of only 1%. A concessional loan agreement for this financing has already been signed between a Georgian state-owned company Marabda-Karsi Railroad LLC and Azerbaijan. As of September 2007, the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan has allocated the first US$50 million installment of this loan. On November 21, 2007, the presidents of Azerbaijan - Ilham Aliyev, Georgia - Mikheil Saakashvili, and Turkey - Abdullah Gul inaugurated the construction of the railroad at a groundbreaking ceremony in the village of Marabda in southern Georgia.   Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot".   Partner news |  Latest news Your home is in Armenia – Ameriabank offers mortgage loans for the Diaspora  To buy real estate, Diasporans can apply to Ameriabank online to buy, renovate or build a home anywhere in Armenia.Armenia-Qatar ties discussed in Doha The Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council met with the Deputy Secretary General of the National Security Council of Qatar.ARARAT special evening dedicated to Aznavour's 100th Anniv. On May 20 ARARAT legendary Armenian brandy, celebrated the centennial of Maestro Charles Aznavour with a special event.Surveying works underway in Armenia’s Kirants Surveying works are underway in the Armenian village of Kirants in the northern Tavush province. |
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