Azerbaijan plans to allocate U.S. $100m for the construction of a Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway.

The 2010 budget was approved by the Coordinating Council at its 8th meeting in Tbilisi.

Azerbaijani Minister of Transport Ziya Mamedov told reporters that Azerbaijan will allocate a total U.S. $200m under the project. “If additional funds are required, Azerbaijan is ready to discuss the issue,” Mamedov said.

“We also discussed technical issues, and can say that the construction will be completed by 2011. In 2012 we will be able to travel to Europe by means of this railway,” Mamedov said.

Georgian Minister of Economy Zurab Pololikashvili said that 30-35 per cent of work has been carried out in Georgia.

“Railway is important for the region’s development, and we are making every effort to implement the project,” Pololikashvili said.

A 105-km-long railway will be constructed under the project, with a 76-km-long section to run through Turkey, and a 29-km-long section through Georgia.

T.P.