Azerbaijan and Iran intend to build a railway bypassing Armenia

Baku/07.10.23/Turan: Azerbaijan and Iran intend to build a railway from the Zangilan region of Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic  (NAR) through the territory of the Islamic Republic. 

The "Protocol of Intentions on the construction of a new railway line and railway bridges between the East Zangezur Economic Region and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of the Republic of Azerbaijan passing through the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran" was signed on October 6 in Baku by Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev and Minister of Roads and Urban Development of Iran Mehrdad Bazrpash.

They signed the document after they took part in the ceremony of laying a road bridge from the village of Agbend across the Araz River to Iran on the afternoon of October 6, which will become part of the highway from Eastern Zangezur to NAR.

Thus, Baku and Tehran have taken concrete steps to build transport communications, which will become an alternative to the "Zangezur Corridor", which is supposed to be created through Armenia.

During the meeting, Mustafayev and Bazrpash, noting the importance of increasing the transit attractiveness of the region, stressed the need to take urgent measures to build access roads to the bridge over the Astarachay River, an important North–South corridor, and the creation of border-customs infrastructure.

The relevant instructions have been given to the state bodies for the speedy completion of the construction of the Astara cargo terminal. The parties also noted the need to accelerate the work for the speedy completion of the projects for the construction of hydroelectric power plants "Khudaferin", "Giz Galasy" and "Ordubad – Marazad".

Mustafayev and Bazrpash are co-chairs of the Interstate Commission on Economic cooperation. ---06B---