‘Though the project is very interesting, some economic issues remain open in the first stage’, said the Prime Minister.
‘Besides, after the opening of BTK, the volume of cargo transportation may reduce in ‘old’ railways and ports. But I believe that the problems will be settled finally’, added Ivanishvili.
Touching upon his expected visit to Azerbaijan on December 26, Ivanishvili said that he wouldn’t discuss BTK project during that visit: ‘Because the appropriate working groups are working on this issues’.
According to APA’s Georgian bureau, the PM did not say anything about the letup of the project: ‘I just mentioned the existence of economic problems in one of old railroads inside Georgia. There is no danger for construction of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway. On the contrary, this project needs support for realization in a short time. This project must not be stopped. I do not put the project under question. I will exchange views on this project during my visit to Azerbaijan, at the same time we will bring up the issue on development of Georgian economy’.
Remind that Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey signed the final document on the construction of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars on February 8, 2007. The construction of the new railway started on November 21, 2007. Azerbaijan extended $200mln preferential loan for Marabda-Kartsakhi Railway LLC (for 25 years) to construct Georgian part of the railway. At the expense of this loan new 29km-road and wheels changing station will be constructed and the old road will be reconstructed.
Moreover, Azerbaijan extended extra funds for Georgia $575mln (for 25 years) to change the direction of the tunnel that will be built in the area from Akhalkalaki by the Turkish border and rehabilitate and reconstruct 160km railway in Marabda-Akhalkalaki. Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project is being implemented with the financial support of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan.
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