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Ramaz Nikolaishvili: â€œMany exacerbate by Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project, but despite that we will realize this projectâ€

08 August 2011 13:05 (UTC +04:00)

Minister said Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project became a winner among 100 projects in a New York competition this year. â€œSuccessful prospects of this project irritate many people, but no one can break friendship between us and Azerbaijan. All over the world know that we are doing serious work. We are also developing the Marabda-Karsakhi railway construction. I am a member of the projectâ€™s Coordination Council. Azerbaijani Minister of Transport Ziya Mammadov and his Turkish counterpart are also members of this council. This important project will unite not only Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, but Asia and Europe too. We will complete the construction of Marabda-Karsakhi railway in time. Many are not happy with that, but despite that we will build it. This project is important because it is carried out under authority of the presidentsâ€.

Azerbaijan allocated USD 200 million soft loans (annual 1% interest rate for 25 years) to Georgia for realization of Marabda-Karsakhi project. These resources will give an opportunity to Georgia to build 29-km new railway and pit-stop on the borders with Turkey and to reconstruct the old railway. Total value of this project estimates more than USD 600 million.

Earlier Azerbaijan allocated USD 200 million and then USD 575 million of credits to the Georgian government. Annual transportation capacity of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will be 17 million tones. Its construction is expected to be finished by the end of next year.