Georgia, Armenia Announce Construction of ‘Friendship Bridge’

TIBILISI, Georgia (Agenda.ge)—Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili and Armenia’s President Serzh Sarkisian on Friday announced the construction of a new bridge at the Georgia-Armenia border as a symbol of the friendship between the two neighboring states. The bridge is announced to be named the “Friendship Bridge.”
Construction of the new bridge will begin next year, said the two officials after the opening ceremony of the new Bagratashen border checkpoint on November 4, located on the Georgia-Armenia border.
Customs services are provided through the Sadakhlo-Bagratashen checkpoint at the Georgia-Armenia border [one of six checkpoints between the neighboring countries], where the Armenian side is responsible for the Bagratashen checkpoint, while Georgia offers relevant services through the Sadakhlo border facility.
Building the new bridge at the Sadakhlo-Bagratashen border checkpoint will be completed in less than two years. The bridge will pass over Debed River and ease traffic travelling between the two nations, announced the Georgian and Armenian high officials.
This border currently has only a single narrow bridge, built in Soviet times.
Construction expenses will be covered by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) through the support of the two countries’ governments.
After the border checkpoint opening, Kvirikashvili and Sarkisian met to discuss prospects of further developing friendly relations and bilateral cooperation in a range of fields.
The discussion also covered the issue of further deepening transport and energy cooperation.
Before the meeting ended, Sarkisian congratulated Kvirikashvili on the ruling party’s victory in the recent Parliamentary Elections of Georgia.