YEREVAN, JULY 30, ARMENPRESS. The construction of Iran-Armenia railroad through the territory of Zangezur can prolong the construction for 7-8 years.  “Negotiations over the construction of Iran-Armenia railroad were conducted also in 1992-1993. We encountered a very serious problem then, which highly increases the expenditures of the construction. The Meghri-Kajaran section is rather difficult to pass and the 3 billion US dollars intended for the construction may not be sufficient”, “Armenpress” reports that such an opinion was made by the director of “Modus Vivendi” center Ara Papian during the seminar “NK conflict: Unfreezing or resuming negotiations?”

He mentioned that one of the solutions to the above-mentioned problem is to be found by using the existing railroad in the territory of Nakhchivan which operated during the USSR period.  “I think that, anyway, we should make that suggestion to Azerbaijan though the Azerbaijani authorities will hardly have a positive attitude to that issue.  But, if Azerbaijan is wise, it will also engage in the negotiation process of the construction of the Georgia-Armenia- Iran railroad”, Ara Papian stressed.