Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are interested in the implementation of the Navoi-Turkmenbashi-Baku-Tbilisi-Kars regional railway project, Presidents Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov and Islam Karimov said in a joint statement signed during the Uzbek leader's visit to Ashgabat.

The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project aims to directly link the railway systems of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey to transport large amounts of cargo and passengers. The railway is being built in accord with an inter-governmental agreement reached by the three countries.

"The sides expressed willingness to step up cooperation in the field of transport communication. The parties also highlighted the importance of implementing the Navoi-Turkmenbashi-Baku-Tbilisi-Kars transport project...which will provide broad access to international markets," the Turkmen and Uzbek leaders' statement said.

The importance of mutual support and increase of the two countries' transit potential within international transport corridors was stressed as well.

'Construction of the century'

Javid Gurbanov, head of AzerYolServis company operating under the Azerbaijani Transport Ministry, speaking of the railway's importance, said it is the "construction of the century" for the countries in the region.

"It is of great importance for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey," he added.

The railway is to be fully operational in the first half of 2013. Its throughput capacity will peak at 17 million tons of cargo per year. Initially, the capacity will be 6.5 million tons of consignments and 1 million passengers.

In 2007, Azerbaijan allocated a $200 million loan to Georgia for 25 years, with interest rate of one percent, to finance the construction and rehabilitation of the Georgian section of the railway. An agreement to allocate additional $575 million to the Georgian side was signed in July 2011. These funds were allocated for a period of 25 years, at a rate of five percent.

The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will increase the flow of containers and other types of cargo from Asia to Europe.

The Marmaris project envisaging the construction of a tunnel under the Bosporus will be implemented, opening a railway link to Europe.

In September, Georgia and Turkey agreed to sign a contract on the construction of a railway tunnel on the Akhalkalaki-Kars railway line of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars route, Turkish media reported.

Jaba Ebanoidze, head of the Georgia Revenue Service, and Turkish Minister for Customs Ziya Altunialdiz have held a meeting in Istanbul. The parties agreed to simplify border crossing procedures with the exemption of imports into Georgia from all customs duties.