Cargo routes from Iran to Europe via Armenia bypassing Turkey could be a safer option, Mr Theodore Tsekeris, a researcher from Greece, told Armenian News – NEWS.am, commenting on the statements of Armenia’s Ministry of Transport on a freight forwarding route from Iran to South Eastern Europe through Armenia, Georgia and the Black Sea. Regulation for that route is under discussions between Armenian and Irani policymakers, who agreed to send 2 test containers by that itinerary to calculate approximate transportation costs.

Tsekeris, who is a Senior research fellow at the Centre of Planning and Economic Research (KEPE), thinks that the combined freight transport corridor from Iran and Armenia to Bulgaria and Greece is promising and likely to succeed. There is available infrastructure, and the new rail link between Burgas, a seaport in Bulgaria, and Alexandroupoli, a Greek port on the Aegean Sea, can support the feasibility of the project.

“The use of combined road-rail and sea transport (through the Black Sea) will circumvent Turkish regions, is probably more secure and is ecological (with usage of rail and ship)”, he said.

This, however, is not the case with natural gas transportation in the same direction, he added. Liquefied gas transportation by ship, between the Middle East and South Eastern Europe, is still preferable to pumping.

“The proposed LNG station at Alexandroupoli can be part of the maritime LNG route toward the European hinterland”, he added.