Turkey offers to create transport corridor across North Ossetia

The Turkish authorities propose to open a transport corridor in North Ossetia to promote trade relations with regions of Russia and countries of Central Asia, as well as to start a bus service between the countries. This was stated on November 13 by Bulent Ugur Ecevit, the head of the delegation of the Ministry of Economy and Association of Exporters of the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey, at opening of the Russian-Turkish Business Forum in Vladikavkaz.

The Turkish delegation departed in a bus from Trabzon, drove across Georgia and arrived in North Ossetia, having thus demonstrated the route that Ankara wants to use for haulage. "It took just 7-8 hours; you start in the morning from Turkey, and in the evening you are in North Ossetia," said Akhmet Khamdi Gyurdogan, Chairman of the Board of the above Association of Exporters.

He said: "We did a little analysis and found that the goods that arrive here in North Ossetia are more expensive than they should be. However, in comparison with Europe, the prices on our products are much lower."

Members of the Turkish delegation also proposed to start a regular bus service between Turkey and North Ossetia.

However, they noted a significant problem – the road infrastructure. Part of the proposed corridor runs along the Georgian Military Highway, which is in poor condition, the "TV Ossetia" reports. According to the Turkish delegation, Ankara hopes to find the solution in talks with the Georgian authorities.