ArmInfo.There are possibilities of unblocking communications in the region, in particular, railways. Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan said this at a briefing with journalists on February 17, commenting on today's statement of the Prime Minister about the Yeraskh- Julfa-Ordubad-Meghri-Horadiz railway.
Today, at a government meeting, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that design work is underway to reconstruct the Armenian sections of the Yeraskh-Julfa-Ordubad-Meghri-Oradiz railway. He expressed hope that in the near future the agreements reached would be formalized in the form of a document, and the de jure process would be fully developed. Earlier it was reported that the Armenian government plans to restore 45 km of the Yeraskh-Julfa-Ordubad - Meghri - Horadiz, railway section and the cost of these works is estimated at about $200 million.
According to him, at the moment there are no new agreements on the operation of the Yeraskh-Julfa- Ordubad-Meghri-Horadiz railway, but before the start of the process there must be a written document in accordance with legal requirements. "There is a general symmetrical perception that the possibilities for unblocking, in particular the opening of railways, are noticeable. Of course, before the start of such an event, there should be a written formalization of agreements, because investments are large, and they require the formulation of agreements," Mher Grigoryan said.
When asked whether there are specific agreements at the moment, the Deputy Prime Minister replied that at the moment official statements have been submitted on all agreements.
Mher Grigoryan touched upon the agreement on the opening of the railway, reached between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan at a meeting in Sochi on November 26, 2021, mediated by the President of Russia and confirmed at a meeting in Brussels on December 14, 2021, mediated by the President of the European Council. "In particular, the Brussels statement clearly presents the agreements, the approaches of the parties on the railway," the Deputy Prime Minister said.
As for financing the construction of the railway, according to Grigoryan, each country will build its own infrastructure at its own expense. "In our case, this will most likely be a state initiative, state infrastructure, I think it is right that this be state infrastructure in this situation, in this case," the Deputy Prime Minister explained.
As Mher Grigoryan noted, the final goal of the Armenian side is such a de-blockade scenario that will bring stability to the region, and infrastructures will begin to have regional significance. "This means that the more communication opportunities there are, the more efficient our infrastructures will operate and our initiatives will be more economically beneficial," the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.
