Georgia, Tbilisi, June 14 / Trend N. Kirtskhaklia /
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Georgian Prime Minister Nika Gilauri discussed the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project realization this week.
Particular attention was paid to the construction rate of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway.
"This large regional project is of special interest to the parties," Mchedlishvili said.
He said that special attention was paid to the energy issues.
"The sides expressed satisfaction with the level of cooperation in this field and expressed confidence that it will further increase in the nearest future," he added.
The meeting was held behind the closed doors. The participants of the meeting did not comment on the meeting.
Azerbaijan has allocated $575 million to Georgia for 25 years at an interest rate of five percent additionally to construct the Georgian section of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway. The allocated funds will be spent to construct and rehabilitate the railway section of
Tetritskaro-Akhalkalaki, to construct the railway station in Akhalkalaki and another railway infrastructure.
This loan has been allocated to the Kartsakhi-Marabda company. It is not a public debt. This loan will be returned from the profit received as a result of the realization of the project after commissioning the railway.
The first tranche worth $200 million has been also allocated to the Georgian side for 25 years at an annual rate of one percent.
According to amendments made to an agreement which was signed between the Azerbaijani and Georgian governments with regard to work on funding, design, construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Marabda-border with Turkey (Kartsakhi) railway section, the total amount of credit line amounted to $775 million.