Russian side's comments on the Armenia-Iran railway construction speak for the stance of a private company, not the Russian Federation itself, Suren Karayan, first deputy minister of International Economic Integration and Reforms, said on June 15 at National Assembly commenting on "Heritage" faction deputy Zaruhi Postanjyan's statement on RA partner Russia's obstacles regarding Armenia's entry into international markets, including the EEU ones.
To remind, president of Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunin has previously told ArmInfo that the Armenia-Iran railway project will be futile and has no prospects.
According to Karayan, almost all EEU countries favour Iran's integration with the Union. The deputy minister emphasized that the construction of the aforementioned railway is Armenia's problem. The project will be implemented given the serious work, which has already been carried out in that area. Iran's accession to the EEU will make the Armenia-Iran railway project even more enticing.
However, as Postanjyan has mentioned, the Russian company pursues specific goals, which comply with the Russian policy. This very policy is carried out the way Armenia never gets out of the blockade. Armenia is to be interested in the implementation of the project given that it proceeds from the president's pre-election promises.
In May 2012 Armenia and Iran signed a concessionaire agreement under which the sides held discussions on the technical and economic grounding and the main tasks of projecting, construction and funding of the programme. The construction is to be carried out within 6 years, the cost of the project is estimated 3.5 bln USD. The length of the road on the Armenian territory is 305 km, it will have 86 bridges of 19.6 km total mileage, as well as 60 tunnels of 102 km total mileage. The construction is to be finished in 2022.