The Azerbaijani permanent representative at the UN, Ambassador Yashar Aliyev came out with statement on the Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki railway project at the meeting of the 60th session of the UN, He noted that Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey believe that countries, international organizations and investors would derive mutual benefit from the participation in the Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki project.
The Ambassador underlined that establishment of the regional transport network would strengthen long-term trade and economic relations.
“The project will be guarantee of the continuous development and safety in the South Caucasus and Eurasia regions,” Aliyev stated. The diplomat said that the Presidents of the countries signed joint declaration on the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway project. According to Aliyev, the railway is important part of the East-West corridor and meets the principles of the European neighborliness policy.
The Kars Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi will allow strengthen economic development of the region and serve ensuring of safety and prosperity.
He stressed that they were currently carrying out engineering and technical work, which will be over till late 2006, on the Kars-Akhalkali section within the project.
The railways of Turkey and Georgia will be connected as a result of the project. The same time, construction of the tunnel under Bosporus will allow the countries transport cargos from Europe to the region and back without any problems. Implementation of the project will have positive impact on environment and many advantages in the economic view.
Aliyev higly appreciated the steps of the UN Economic Commission on support of the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi project.
According to Aliyev, the next step in this direction must be injection of the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku branch into the plan of the Trans European Railway Network.
The joint declaration on the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway, signed by the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, was spread as official document of the 60th anniversary of the UN General Assembly.