Serzh Sargsyan

Armenia wishes to restore railway communication with Iran, said Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan Tuesday at the meeting with winners of 2009-2010, laureate of the international Olympic Games, winners of the Kangaroo in international mathematical contest.

“We want to implement this program and have railway communication with Iran. Huge work has been carried out here and we will fulfill this important task for our country”, the head of the state said.

He recalled that “the transport system is a pulse of the country, the blood system without which it is impossible to live in the contemporary world”.

He said Armenia certainly has programs on the development of the transport system. Sargsyan voiced confidence that Armenia will have serious ways of communication with neighbors.

The president recalled that Armenia currently expresses wish to build North-South highway.

The Armenian president noted that the country has already started programs on bringing the transportation system in line with contemporary standards and the works will seemingly start in spring.

“There are means and the projects are being prepared. If I am not mistaken, the contest has already been declared or will soon be declared”, the president said.

The Iran-Armenian railroad will allow the Armenian side using alternative ways of transportation of energy resources and other goods getting access to the external world. Currently the railway communications of Armenia with foreign countries are ensured only via Georgia.

By preliminary data, investments into construction of railway communication Iran-Armenia will make up $2bn. The interest to participation in co-financing the construction of the Iran-Armenian railroad is demonstrated by the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

On 6 August 2009 the Armenian government created a Directory on Construction of the North-South railroad responsible for construction and search of sources of financing of road connecting Armenia and Iran.

News-Armenia