Will the railway, which Russian and Iranian officials announced, be a counterbalance to the USA? In response to Aravot.am’s question economist Vardan Bostanjyan said that it is indeed counterbalanced, why not?
Mr. Bostanjyan said that the railway connecting Iran and Russia, which will pass through Armenia, Azerbaijan, Abkhazia, is “too good of a project” which will only benefit the countries on this line, including Armenia: “We realized that all the political and public figures in Iran had never considered the United States as their friend. Moreover, the USA raises the question of sanctions restoration. Iran could undertake a more restrained policy back when there were almost no sanctions. As for being a nuclear state, probably this is their purpose, this rectilinearity should work, and there is no alternative.”
Vazgen Safaryan, the president of the Union of NAtive Commodity Producers, said that this project is a step closer to the Eurasian Economic Union, which will bring about its own benefits to the free-trade zone opening soon in Meghri. Mr. Safaryan also named some rail projects, one of which is Vanadzor-Fialetovo, that remained on paper, yet those are the best ways to reach out to the sea.
According to him, the construction will shorten the road by 100-150 kilometers, in addition, it will reduce the cost of transportation. In response to Aravot.am’s question, whether the government raised a question a few months ago over the alternative road to Lars, whether they meant this very road, Mr. Bostanjyan replied: “I think that they meant this road. It has become a topical issue for it to Russia to have it. Not because they love Armenia, no, but simply because it has become urgent.”
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