INTERSECTION OF TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS IS BEING FORMED: OVERCHUK
The intersection of the international transport corridors North - South and East - West is currently being formed in the South Caucasus. If this initiative is implemented, the economies of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia will receive additional income, taking into account the advantages of the geographical position of those countries in Eurasia. Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexey Overchuk announced this during the ‘Made in Russia’ conference.
Alexey Overchuk (Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation) - In this regard, the unblocking of transport links between the western regions of Azerbaijan and Nakhijevan through the territory of Armenia or Iran will play a significant role.
Iran and Azerbaijan have already started the construction of bridges on the border, they will connect the highways of the two countries and provide an opportunity to provide fast and comfortable traffic between the western regions of Azerbaijan and Nakhijevan.
The construction of a railway and motor road through Meghri, the territory of Armenia, whose sovereignty no one questions, depends on Armenia's position. Moreover, a road bypassing Armenia is already being built through the territory of Iran. It will be ready around 2024, and it will allow to enter the markets of Iran, Turkey and Europe.
Overchuk noted that North-South road and rail transportation is underway, but the transportation corridor is not meeting the expected growth in traffic volumes and needs upgrading and capacity increase.
The Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation referred to the Rasht-Astara railway and informed that the discussions regarding the construction of the missing 160-kilometer route in that section have been resumed in Iran. Overchuk also added that Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran are negotiating the establishment of a transport and logistics operator on the western route, which will allow to control the flow of goods, harmonize border control procedures and ensure uninterrupted cargo transportation from the ports of the Persian Gulf to the Baltic states and vice versa.
ERDOGAN INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE WITH PUTIN AND ZELENSKY
The President of Turkey announced that he intends to negotiate with the presidents of Russia and Ukraine in the near future.
“Putin is now much more open to dialogue than before. Let's see what results our telephone conversations will bring in the near future,” said Recep Erdogan.
He added that during his earlier phone conversation with Zelensky, he felt that the latter also wants to overcome the Ukrainian crisis. “I hope it will be possible to organize a meeting between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, thus continuing the path of peace,” Erdogan said.
Responding to Erdoğan's statements, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that there is no phone conversation with the Turkish President on Putin's agenda yet, but it can be arranged if necessary.
Peskov added that Vladimir Putin has always been open to negotiations on the issue of Ukraine.
TEHRAN CALLED ON CITIZENS NOT TO VISIT UKRAINE
Tehran called on Iranian citizens not to visit Ukraine.
“Taking into account the growing instability in Ukraine, we also advise the citizens of Iran living in Ukraine to leave the territory of that country,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Earlier, Oleksiy Goncharenko, member of the Ukrainian Parliament, announced that a draft resolution on severing diplomatic relations between Kyiv and Tehran was submitted to the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament). The Ukrainian side claims that Moscow is using Iranian drones during the Ukrainian conflict. Tehran and Moscow deny Kyiv's accusations.
POWER OUTAGES ARE TAKING PLACE IN KYIV: KULEBA
The head of the military administration of the region, Alexi Kuleba, said that there are power outages in the Kyiv region. He urged residents to save electricity. According to the Ukrainian media, traffic lights are also being turned off in some parts of Kyiv due to the lack of electricity.
Alexey Arestovich, advisor to the head of Volodymyr Zelensky's office, also expressed concern that as a result of the strikes of the Russian forces, Ukraine may be left without water, electricity and heating for weeks or even months.
“30% of the country's thermal power plants were damaged, now restoration works are being carried out, but we cannot resolve the situation in two days,” Arestovich stressed.
FOREIGNERS WILL FILL OUT MEDICAL QUESTIONNAIRE WHEN TRAVELING TO RUSSIA
From October 21, unvaccinated Russians traveling to Russia will no longer have to take a PCR test, Rospotrebnadzor reports.
And foreigners and stateless persons only need to fill out an appropriate medical questionnaire upon entering Russia.
