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Risks for Georgia's transit function

Risks for Georgia's transit function
Risks for Georgia's transit function

Moscow, Yerevan, and Baku are considering the construction of a railway through Armenia. We are talking about the construction of a railway through Armenia's territory, which will connect Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan, as well as Russia with Armenia. Baku is also requesting the construction of a highway along this section. Construction of part of the road has already begun in Azerbaijan. The possibility of connecting Armenia and Iran by rail through Nakhchivan is also being considered.

Specialists are convinced that the new logistics routes will not significantly impact Georgia's transit potential. Paata Tsagareishvili, the President of the Transport Corridor Research Center, thinks the same. He is convinced that the resumption of traffic will not lose Georgia's transit function.

"Because it is a long way. Even if its construction is completed, it is about 300-400 kilometers longer. From Central Asia and Russia to Europe and vice versa, it can not compete. In addition, we have a new and very reliable corridor, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway," Tsagareishvili says, adding that it is unlikely that Georgia will lose the burden that connects Russia-Armenia with the Lars checkpoint. The reason here is the short route.

"Armenia mainly transports wheat from Russia with the help of the Upper Lars checkpoint. This cargo stream will not have any problems either, as it is the shortest distance, and Russia will not ship via Azerbaijan. Therefore, we will not lose this cargo flow, which is about 0.5 million tons per year and is a significant financial income for our transport corridor," Paata Tsagareishvili added.

According to him, in the 90s of the XX century, Armenia became isolated between Azerbaijan and Turkey, and the country was left with transport traffic with Iran from the south and with Georgia in the north. However, the largest share of Armenian cargo turnover currently falls in Georgia.

As Paata Tsagareishvili explains, transit traffic between Iran and Armenia is difficult because where the road connecting Armenia and Iran passes, there is mountainous terrain.

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