Azerbaijani top official: Work on launching Baku–Tbilisi passenger train continues

Azerbaijan and Georgia have discussed the operation of a Baku–Tbilisi passenger train, with relevant state institutions working in line with instructions issued by the leaders of both countries, Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, has said in a joint statement to journalists on the sidelines of WUF13.

He noted that the governments of the two countries have adopted a joint communiqué on the issue, which has already been officially announced to the public, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

“Work in this direction is continuing routinely. At present, the discussions are at an initial stage,” he added.

Earlier, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Economy stated that the daily passenger train services on the Baku–Tbilisi–Baku route will resume on May 26.

The decision follows an agreement reached during talks in Baku between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.

The sides also signed a protocol by the Coordination Council confirming the completion and final acceptance of modernisation work carried out under the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project.

The operation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Baku passenger train was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the special quarantine regime.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov