Tripartite joint railway project announced in Turkey

Turkey, Iran and Azerbaijan is working on a joint railway project between the three countries, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu announced on Friday "We are determined to develop the joint project to provide the easiest and fastest transportation especially in transition of Caspian and Lake Van," Davutoglu said in joint press conference through state-run TRT news channel with his Iranian and Azerbaijani counterparts in eastern Van city of Turkey. Davutoglu hosted Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Memmedyarov for the third " Trilateral Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs Turkey, Azerbaijan and Iran." In the meeting, parties agreed on an action plan for 2014-2016, which includes projects in transportation, energy, trade, customs, cultural and political affairs, said Davutoglu. An Azerbaijan-Iran-Turkey railway project is among those projects in the action plan, he noted. The three ministers also discussed regional developments including Ukraine, Middle East, nuclear talks between P5+1 and Iran, the Cyprus talks, the minister said. Davutoglu said that Turkey wouldn't accept any decision other than protecting the territorial integrity of Ukraine, adding that the result of the Crimean referendum would not be valid for Turkey. The Azerbaijani foreign minister said "Armenian soldiers should withdraw from Azerbaijani lands," so that the region could maintain prosperity and security.