|
TURKISH ARMENIAN BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
TABDC
February 11, 2002
Press Release
TABDC WELCOMES NEW TRACECA
MAP
TABDC welcomes the approval by the Intergovernmental
Commission “TRACECA” for the Transport Corridor Europe/Caucasus/Asia
assembled in Tbilisi, Georgia on December 11-12, 2001 of the
new TRACECA map that now includes the highways, railroads
and ports of Turkey in the highlighted routes of its East-West
transport corridor.
Since 1998, TABDC has been promoting the development
of a Turkish-Armenian cooperative strategy for transportation.
Ongoing talks between TABDC and Turkish State Railways (TCDD)
have sought to promote the inclusion of the Turkish railway
system in the TRACECA corridor as one of the most cost-effective,
commercially viable and strategically beneficial East-West
rail links.
Armenia and Turkey constitute a land bridge
between Europe and Asia, and the existing network of Armenian
rail lines are an essential link to a viable transportation
network between the Caucasus, Turkey and onwards to Europe.
As stated in TABDC’s Activity Report, the opening of the Anatolia-Caucasus
route will guarantee permanent access to Trans-European and
Trans-Asian transportation networks for the people and businesses
of two continents.
The re-opening of the Kars-Yerevan railway connection,
as well as the rehabilitation of the Kars-Gyumri and Igdir-Yerevan
highways will reinforce the transit routes running East-West
and improve the availability, predictability and reliability
of shipping services for all Caucasus countries.
Distorted trade flows and disrupted transportation
routes continue to hinder the development potential of Turkey,
Azerbaijan, and Armenia. Effective utilization of the existing
rail infrastructure could quickly transform Armenia and Turkey
into a regional business hub. Moreover, increased flows of
goods and people between these countries will lay the foundation
for economic prosperity---which in turn will aid the search
for a peaceful and definitive solution to the Nagarno-Karabagh
conflict.
TABDC welcomes the intention of the Republic
of Armenia, the Azerbaijan Republic and the European Commission
to support the initiative to re-open the rail link between
Yerevan-Nakhitchevan-Baku, and calls on these parties and
the Republic of Turkey to hasten talks to open the Turkish-Armenian
border, which will further develop regional trade and improve
prospects for the ultimate realization of the Baku-Mersin
railway project that will link the Mediterranean Sea and the
Caspian Basin.
TABDC believes that TRACECA has been successful
in demonstrating the potential for regional cooperation in
the Caucasus. By developing and improving the infrastructure
that connects these neighboring states, TRACECA has contributed
to building confidence and creating goodwill between their
governments and citizens, and this cooperation should now
be widened to include other important regional partners.
As a Turkish-Armenian business association gathering
professionals from the transportation sector, TABDC is committed
to support the full implementation of the Multilateral Agreement
on International Transport for the Development of the Europe-Caucasus-Asia
Corridor signed in Baku in 1998.
Arsen Ghazarian Kaan Soyak
TABDC (TURKEY):
Tel: 90 (212) 236 00 17 Fax:
90 (212) 259 72 51
TABDC (ARMENIA):
Tel: 374 (1) 35 11 80 Fax: 374
(1) 35 12 40
TABC (USA):
Tel: 1 (516) 869-7525 Fax: 1
(516) 365-0560
Top
|
