The U.S. attaches much importance to Armenia`s cooperation with its neighbors

ArmInfo. The United States attaches much importance to Armenia`s cooperation with its neighbors, Vache Gabrielyan, Armenian Vice Premier, Minister for International Economic Integration and Reforms, said on the sidelines of the meeting of the U.S.-Armenia Joint Economic Task Force on November 19, when replying to ArmInfo's question.      

He said that the U.S. will keep supporting the construction of the new high voltage power transmission lines, for instance, the Armenia-Georgia power transmission line, which will connect the power grids of the region. When asked by ArmInfo about possible discussion of opening of the Armenian-Turkish border, Gabrielyan stressed that at the moment the problem is not on the agenda of the Armenia-U.S.  trade and economic cooperation. "The problem with Turkey is much broader," he stressed.     

To recall, on Dec 9, 2014, Armenia and the German KfW Bank signed a loan agreement on construction of an electric power transmission line with Georgia. KfW Bank will lend 85.2 million EUR to Armenia, including 75 million EUR from its own funds and 10.2 million EUR from the financial means provided by Government of Germany. The goal is to connect the Armenian and Georgian energy systems with the 500/400/220 kV high-voltage current converter station stationed in Ayrum located near the Georgian border. The connection from the Georgian side will be through a 500 kV line from the Marneul substation, and the connection from the Armenian side will be through the 400 kV line from Hrazdan. The total cost of the first phase of the project is 105.2 million EUR. Extra 10 million EUR will be lent by the European Investment Bank and another 10 million EUR will be granted by the European Commission. The total cost of the project to be implemented in three phases is 330 million EUR. The first phase worth 105 million EUR will be completed in 2018, the second phase worth 100 million EUR will be over in 2021, and the third one worth 125 million EUR - in 2025. At the moment, three power transmission lines connect Armenia and Georgia, namely, Alaverdi-2 (220 kV), Lalvar (110 kV) and Ashotsk (110 kV).