Turkey, Kars, 24 July / Trend corr. A.Aliyev/ Azerbaijani President is confident that the level of cooperation among Georgia, Turkey and Azerbaijan is unique worldwide. "Similar trilateral cooperation in political, economic and cultural fields perhaps cannot be found in the world. It is unique," President Ilham Aliyev said in Kars at the ceremony of foundation of the Turkish section of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway on 24 July.
President Aliyev said largest regional projects being implemented among the three countries, such as Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipe, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum (BTE) gas pipe and Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway, are of special importance for the region and for the world. He said oil pumping via BTC will total 40mln tons this year and over 50mln tons next year. The role of energy security in the world makes its clear how important BTE and BTC projects are, the President said.
"According to estimates, Azerbaijan's gas reserves comprise 2trln cu m, which will enable gas supply to Azerbaijan and its friendly and fraternal countries for many years to come," Aliyev said.
"Realizing the significance of those regional projects, the number of countries willing to join them is ascending. And that enables the countries of the region to receive both economic and political dividends," said President.
Aliyev said the corridor connecting Asia to Europe via Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey is the most efficient and the shortest.
The Baku- Tbilisi-Kars project includes the construction of 105km-railway road with 76 km section running via Turkey and 29 km section via Georgia. Moreover, 183 km section of Akhalkalaki-Marabda-Tbilisi railway will be also reconstructed to improve the carrying capacity to 15mln tons of cargo per year.
Moreover, 183 km section of Akhalkalaki-Marabda-Tbilisi railway will be reconstructed to improve the carrying capacity to 15mln tons of cargo per year. It is planned to build in Akhalkalaki a place for the transition of trains from the track existing in Georgia to the European one. The project is estimated to $422mln and taking into consideration the accompanying infrastructure its cost will comprise $600mln. The transport corridor is expected to be put into operation in 2011.