ANKARA, Turkey: The Associated Press – The presidents of Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan have launched the construction of the Turkish stretch of a railway linking their nations.
The US$600 million rail line will connect the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, with the eastern Turkish city of Kars, via the Georgian capital, Tbilisi.
The project is one of several linking oil-rich Azerbaijan and Central Asia with Turkey and European markets while bypassing Russia.
A groundbreaking ceremony in Kars Thursday marked the start of the 50 mile (76 kilometer) Turkish section of the 110 mile (180 kilometer) railroad.
“We are launching the iron Silk Road,” Turkey’s Abdullah Gul said. “It will link China in Asia to London.”
The Silk Road was an ancient Asian trading route. The railway will be operational in 2011.
Source: International Herald Tribune, July 24, 2008