Iran to connect Armenia to international watersApril 28, 2011 - 10:17 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A senior Iranian official says the country's firms will form a consortium to connect Armenia's rail network to international waters via Iran. “Iranian companies have expressed their readiness to create a consortium for building roads and railways in Armenia and connecting their rail network to Iran's,” Deputy Minister of Road and Transport Reza Pilpayeh was quoted by Mehr news agency as saying on Wednesday, April 27. According to Pilpayeh, the rail network will be 540 kilometers, of which 480 kilometers will be in Armenia and 60 kilometers in Iran. He added that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) had been signed between the two sides but the agreement had yet to be implemented. With the implementation of the agreement, Armenia's rail network will be effectively connected to international waters via the southern Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. Pilpayeh also announced the readiness of Iranian companies to participate in the construction of 624 kilometer of road inside Armenia which will directly link Iran to the Georgian Republic. 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 | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |