Armenia boosts efforts to link railway to Iran

Senior Armenian officials said the country is in search of financing sources for the construction of the railway connecting Armenia with Iran.Armenia's transport and communications minister Manuk Vardanian said, "There are negotiations with Iran and China as well as other international donors and private investors." During a recent visit to Moscow the Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian discussed the issue with Russian president Dimitri Medvedev. First steps have been taken already and the feasibility study is ready. For Armenia the railway will be significant economically and strategically. Costs are estimated up to USD2.5bln.