Transportation blockade has severely impacted Armenia

Armenian analysts agree that the transportation blockade imposed by both Turkey and Azerbaijan over 20 years ago has created serious problems for the Armenian economy. Armenia's borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan have been closed since the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan in the early 1990's. Armenia's only direct outlet to the outside world is via its border with Georgia or the much smaller border with Iran. The only railway link currently operating is via Georgia. Initially Armenia expressed skepticism about the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway but is now willing to be part of the project. However, Azeri officials are categorically against cooperating with Armenia.