Garnik Asatryan particularly highlighted the political and economic advantages for both countries, as well as the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union. “Armenia will go into the big economic movements and gain an increased geopolitical significance in the region,” he noted.
Asatryan said he finds the new railway communication plan absolutely feasible, adding that financial resources will be no problem at all in case the sides demonstrate the necessary willingness. “That doesn’t depend on just one individual or the authorities; there are problems that require also favorable conditions. I think that this project, which has been so many times discussed and will keep being discussed still more, has big chances of becoming real,” he added.
The orientalist further stressed the importance of economic conditions. He said that the high geographic landscape would require several years’ work to complete the project.
In his speech at the joint summit of the BRICS, EEU and SCO leaders in Ufa (Russia), Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said he believes the construction of the Iran-Armenia highway will open a route to the Indian Ocean for the EEU member states.
Asatryan said he thinks that the project will raise the advantages of not only Armenia but also Iran. “The Persian Gulf will thus have a direct communication route with Russia. [The project], if realized, will really be advantageous to Armenia,” he added.
What will give Armenia the implementation of Armenia-Iran railway construction project? An orientalist’s answer
Armenia-Iran railway construction project should be viewed as a dream project for Armenia, but that project is, however, feasible, orientalist Vardan Voskanyan told a press conference today.
“We should always set high standards and try to meet them,” he said.
When explaining the slow implementation of the project, V. Voskanyan gave two reasons: the sanctions against Iran and the global economic crisis. In his words, those reasons are now disappearing, and in case of successful completion of the talks between Iran and six nations over Iran’s nuclear program, the situation is going to improve even more.
The construction of Armenia-Iran railway is important to Armenia for a variety of reasons, the expert said. “One group of economists considers the project advantageous, while the other claims the opposite. Even if we assume that the project is not advantageous to Armenia economically, it is undoubtedly of great strategic importance to the country. The railway construction will enable Armenia to overcome the Azerbaijani-Turkish blockade,” Voskanyan stressed.
The construction of Armenia-Iran railway will benefit Iran as a shortcut that will link it to Georgian ports, and will also be advantageous to China in terms of constructing the Silk Road, V. Voskanyan added.
He said the Armenian and Iranian sides support the project based on statements by the Russian side that is not opposed to it.
Source: Panorama.am
Armenia-Iran An agreement to boost energy projects
Armenia and Iran have agreed to start building next year a third high-voltage transmission line connecting their power grids. This should lead to a sharp increase in electricity exports from Armenia to Iran.
The energy ministers of both countries also said, after talks in Tehran this week that the delayed construction of a large hydroelectric power plant on the border at the Arax River is expected to begin early 2016.
The two projects of several million dollars were on the agenda of a meeting of Armenian-Iranian intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation held in the capital of Iran on 15 and 16 December. The commission is co-directed by the Minister of Energy of Iran, Hamid Chitchian and his Armenian counterpart, Yervand Zakharyan.
In a statement released Thursday night, it was reported the words of Zakharian: “We have agreed with Iran to begin construction of the transmission line in March 2015 and completed in 18 months. The construction of this line will allow Armenia to increase the supply of electricity to Iran, which currently stands at 1.2 billion kilowatt / hour but could go up to 7 billion kilowatt / hour “.
Zakharian also met with Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh. He would have told him that Armenia aims to double its trade with Iran, which exceeded $ 300 million in 2013. He cited other bilateral energy projects planned by the two governments.
“The latest round of talks resulted in important agreements, which relate to the expansion of our trade and economic cooperation in the near future,” said Iranian Energy Minister according to the Mehr news agency.
Armenian-Iranian energy cooperation was a key element of the official visit of Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan in Tehran in October. Zakharian was among the six cabinet members who accompanied him. During his meeting with Abrahamian, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani spoke of “great opportunities” for expansion of bilateral ties.
Claire © armenews.com