TBILISI (AA) - Turkish Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim who is currently paying an official visit to Georgia has stated that the final decision on the Kars-Tbilisi-Ahilkelek railway project will be taken in April, 2005.
Participating in a press conference after his meeting with the Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania on Tuesday in Tbilisi, Yildirim said that the railway project will not only connect Turkey and Georgia but also Turkey and Azerbaijan as well as Central Asia and Europe.
''An Azeri delegation was present in our discussions with the Georgians. The three countries expressed willingness for the realization of the railway project,'' told Yildirim.
''A final decision will be made in April 2005 by the ministers of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia.'' According to Yildirim, the railway project will be financed by those three countries.
Yildirim added that they also discussed the possibility of opening a third border pass between Turkey and Georgia, namely Cildir-Aktas pass during Joint Transportation Commission's meeting.
''However, we first of all need to work on constructing new highways in Turkey and Georgia. Once these new roads are made we may then be able to open a third border pass,'' remarked Yildirim.
Yildirim met Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili after his meeting with Prime Minister Zhvania. Yildirim's meeting with Saakashvili was closed to the press.
On Thursday, Yildirim is expected to sign the final protocol of the Turkey-Georgia Joint Transportation Commission of which he is a co-chairman.
(ES-MS)
2004-12-28