one side says development - other says destroy

Russia and Iran discussed expanding cooperation for rail development yesterday at the ongoing Second Russian Railway Conference in Moscow. 

Chairman of Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunin met with visiting Iranian Railways Department Chairman Abdulali Sahib Mohammadi to discuss connecting Iran to Europe via Russia, Iran's IRIB news reported.

The two discussed connecting the Iranian railway to Russia through Azerbaijan, and emphasized the need to link Bandar Abbas, an Iranian port on the mouth of the Persian Gulf, to Europe via Russia. 

This would be part of the 667-km North-South Transnational Corridor project, which has been under discussion since 2001. 

This plan would rebuild existing rail connections among Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Russia, and expand shipping and other transport. 

Russia is also involved in electrification of two Iranian lines on the Bask-Tehran railway and the Sufiyan-Razi railway.  

The Moscow Times today quoted Yakunin saying that Russian Railways is looking for new projects in the Middle East, although investment in Libya has been less than satisfactory. 

"We are seeking the possibility to penetrate into the international market of infrastructure construction. Our first attempt in Libya seemed to be not very exciting but we continue this policy," he said. 

Yakunin said Russia is interested in working in the United Arab Emirates and other Persian Gulf countries. "They have a very substantial program to develop railway infrastructure. And we would like to be part of that," he said. 

Russia also wants to finally complete the 2.2 billion euro project in Libya, although losses have now hit 20 billion rubles ($647 million).

Some 3,000 people are participating in the rail conference, which ends today.

Every schoolhouse has a bully ready to kick the blocks of the more peaceful kids. Which one were you?