Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct.30
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
Turkey considers the possibility of using Georgia - Azerbaijan route for transportation of goods in Turkmenistan, executive board member of the Association of International Carriers (UND) Turkey Elif Sevim told Trend.
He didn't exclude the fact that Turkey will use this route if Iran continues to demand a transit fee from Turkish truckers.
"Turkey has always considered Georgia - Azerbaijan route for transportation of goods to Turkmenistan by the roll-on/roll-off (RORO or ro-ro) ships as an alternative to the Iranian route," said Sevim.
He said that Turkey hopes that Azerbaijan will lower prices for the transportation of goods to Turkmenistan by the ro-ro ships.
He also said that the minister of transport, navigation and communications of Turkey Lutfi Elvan discussed this issue with the Azerbaijani side during his visit to Azerbaijan.
Earlier, the minister of transport, navigation and communications of Turkey called illegal Iran's increasing the transit fee for the Turkish trucks entering the country by 2 times.
The minister said that Turkey respects all agreements reached with Iran, and Tehran should do the same.
Over the last years, Iran has charged a transit fee in the amount of $750 from the Turkish trucks entering the territory of the country, while the Iranian trucks entered the territory of Turkey for free.
After that, Turkey imposed the similar fee for Iranian trucks. This was done in order to force Iran to reduce the transit fee for Turkish trucks, but Iran has increased the fee up to $1,500 since October 10.
At the same time, Iranian officials say that the two sides may charge a transit fee only in case of the difference in fuel prices on the territories of the countries, according to the agreement signed with Turkey a few decades ago.
The cost of 1 liter of diesel fuel in Turkey is 2.12 TL (1 USD / 2, 2324 TL), in Iran - 2500 IRR (26704 IRR / USD).