Armenia, Iran Firm to Connect Railway Systems

Arakelyan made the remarks in an interview with IRNA News Agency published on Sunday. Commenting on a recent meeting of the two countries’ joint committee in Tehran, he said Iran and Armenia signed an agreement, which is regarded as a timetable for conducting joint activities in various economic spheres.

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At the end of the meeting both sides agreed that their transportation ministries sign a memorandum of understanding in the next three months in order to make preparations for constructing the railways, he explained.

Thus, Iran will undertake to construct a 60-kilometer railway from Jolfa, a town located to the north of Tabriz, in East Azarbaijan to its borders with Armenia and Armenia, in turn, will construct a 400-kilometer railway from its border, he stated.

Through the railway, Armenia will be able to transport passengers and goods to Persian Gulf littoral states and some member states of the Economic Cooperation Organization, he added.The railway will also facilitate the transport of people and goods from Iran to littoral states of the Black Sea and some northern countries, he added.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Arakelyan said President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to Yerevan will help the two countries strengthen their relations and expand their cooperation.
Ahmadinejad will leave Tehran for Yerevan today to hold talks with Armenian officials on issues of mutual interest. The visit takes place in response to a similar visit by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to Iran late March.

The Armenian ambassador said, “Iran and Armenia have no political problems” and they are a model of two friendly countries in the region. He also said Tehran and Yerevan can help establish security in the region through expanding ties in all spheres, including running joint infrastructure projects. And in order to utilize the countries’ potential, building roads between the two countries are highly important, he added.

Arakelyan also said Armenia expects Iran to help it construct highways in mountainous areas, which are close to its borders with Iran