Start of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad construction to be marked in Tbilisi Nov. 21-22November 16, 2007 - 15:05 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The start of construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad which will unite will be marked in Tbilisi November 21-22, Kavkaz press reports quoting a source in the Georgian government.Presidents Mikhael Saakashvili of Georgia and Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan will attend the ceremony. Turkey will be presumably represented by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Azerinshat Service company will construct the Georgian sector of the railway. Azerbaijan is supposed to grant a $200 mln credit to Georgia for a 25-year term with a 1 per cent annual interest rate. The first tranche will amount $49 mln. The Georgian segment will extend for 29 km, the old railroad will be also reconstructed. The agreement on the BTK building was signed by Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey in February. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | U.S., Armenia sign customs deal According to Armenian customs data, U.S.-Armenian trade reached $670 million last year. Glendale mayor to visit Yerevan Asatryan last visited Armenia in December 2022-January 2023 as she helped establish a partnership between Armenia’s Opera House and Los Angeles Opera. Ucom’s fixed network launches in Nor Hachn City residents will be able to use fixed-line Internet, mobile communications and television in one package at more affordable prices. Ambassador summoned to Russia returns to Armenia Sergei Kopyrkin has returned to Yerevan more than two weeks after being recalled to Moscow for consultations. |