Azerbaijan will allocate half of the finances for the realization of the project of opening a rail link through the route of Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku, the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said on November 1, while making a speech before the community of Shamkir district, Trend reports.
Presently no issue in the whole region can be realized without participation of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is free and independent to realize any projects. We are not only participants of many projects, but also their initiators, the President said.
According to Aliyev, a large number of projects are realized, roads and electric power stations are constructed and natural resources are used effectively in Azerbaijan.
The physical works for the realization of the project should begin in January 2007. Presently all pre-project works for opening the rail link have been completed practically.
The project for creation of the railway transport corridor Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku includes construction of the 98 km railway stretch Kars-Akhalkalaki, with 68 km through the territory of Turkey and 30 km through Georgia. In addition, it needs to realize certain reconstruction works in the stretch of Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi. The approximate cost of the project is estimated at $400 mln.