Vazgen Safaryan: Construction of Iran-Armenia railway should be on t

Vazgen Safaryan: Construction of Iran-Armenia railway should be on the agenda

16:32 02.09.2014

Alisa Gevorgyan
Public Radio of Armenia

“Armenia exported 63 tones of agricultural products to Russia in 2013;
if we manage to double the number, it will be a serious success,”
Vazgen Safaryan, Chairman of the Union of Domestic Commodity
Producers, told a press conference today.

Speaking about the closure of Upper Lars checkpoint as a result of
landslide, he said although the gate is now open, the problem has not
been completely solved. He reminds that the issue of constructing a
tunnel here has been raised several times throughout history. “The
realization of the project was interrupted twice because of the two
World Wars and the collapse of the Soviet Union,” Safaryan said,
adding that the issue should be put on Armenian-Georgian agenda.

“Besides, we should think about a second route – the construction of
the Iran-Armenia railway. Armenia should also speak to Georgia about
the opening of the Abkhazian railway,” he added.

According to Vazgen Safaryan, today there is an unprecedented
opportunity for exporting Armenian products to the Russian market, but
this requires a more flexible credit and tax policy.

“Armenia exported 63 tones of agricultural products to Russia in 2013;
if we manage to double the number, it will be a serious success,” he
said.

At the same time, exports should not be boosted at the expense of
interests of local consumers, Safaryan said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress