Your trusted source

Discussions over working out alternative routes to Upper Lars checkpoint are underway, and the results will be presented, Armenian Minister of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies Vahan Martirosyan told reporters at a briefing on Wednesday.

“Quite favorable conditions were proposed by the Georgia side, while the Russians came up with certain benefits. Air and ferry freights are alternatives for the Lars road with the latter being affordable in case with transportation of certain goods,” said the minister.

To remind, Armenian PM Karen Karapetyan stressed earlier the importance of working out alternative routes to the Upper Lars checkpoint, considering the problem of frequent landslides and snowdrifts caused by adverse climatic conditions negatively affecting the volume of trade.

The minister spoke of the construction of the Armenian-Iranian railway, saying the discussions are underway. “A concession agreement is in force with a company with ongoing talks with investors and the representatives of the company. Progress will be observed upon obtaining relevant funding,” Martirosyan added.