HALDUN YAVAS

THE HEART OF SILK ROAD CASPIAN

TRANSIT CORRIDOR IS WAITING FOR
TURKEY

H A L D U N Y AVA

www.hazar.org

C A S P I AN S T R AT E G Y I N S T I T U T E
THE HEART OF SILK ROAD CASPIAN TRANSIT
( HASEN)
CORRIDOR IS WAITING FOR TURKEY
www.hazar.or g

As the first infrastructure that comes to mind within the historical context, the Silk Road is the most
favored transport network of ancient times. This highly long and complex road network contributed to
the globalization of the world with its many advantages. The Silk Road which is mainly based on
road transport or in other words the road section of the Silk Road lost its importance as a result of
the shift of the worlds political center to the west, and new developments in maritime technologies
which led to cheaper and higher-volume seaborne trade. Consequently the Silk Road sank into a
deep sleep for many centuries but it started to revive when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, new
independent states emerged and China recorded a significant economic growth in the eastern part of
the continent. However, Silk Roads role has not changed from the ancient times to the present. This
role is to integrate Europe and Asia continents to allow the exchange of goods, cultures and beliefs.
(Haldun Yava)

C A S P I AN S T R AT E G Y I N S T I T U T E
THE HEART OF SILK ROAD CASPIAN TRANSIT
( HASEN)
CORRIDOR IS WAITING FOR TURKEY
www.hazar.or g

Located at the heart of the Silk Road, the Caspian Region has substantial oil and natural gas reserves
and in geostrategic terms it constitutes the junction point of east-west and north-south main transport
axes which links Europe to Asia. Accordingly, the region has always maintained its importance throughout
history.
But there are Must-Take Steps with neighbors for the common good of the broader region. Revival of
the Silk Road through the Caspian Transit Corridor is a vision, which every state will benefit from. What
makes corridor such a critical focus is that it is the most feasible route. Not only the global sellers and
buyers, but also the regional countries will be the beneficiaries of the Corridor.
Caspian countries have rich hydro-carbon reserves. They attract more international investments while
building stronger regional links with neighbors by building railways and energy pipelines. Caspian
countries are growing and becoming more active in transport projects. Trans-Caspian train ferry service
and rail transport has been improving. Kazakhstan, a landlocked state, is developing a merchant marine
fleet and its vessels have been operating in the international waters. (Haldun Yava)

C A S P I AN S T R AT E G Y I N S T I T U T E
THE HEART OF SILK ROAD CASPIAN TRANSIT
( HASEN)
CORRIDOR IS WAITING FOR TURKEY
www.hazar.or g

Azerbaijans Port of Baku is converting Baku into a logistic hub. Turkmenistan is also building
a high capacity port in Turkmenbashi and investing on marine vessels which operate at the
Caspian Sea. When we look at the South Caucasus, Georgia and Azerbaijan have almost
completed their section of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway. Turkey has completed the
Marmaray tunnel beneath the Bosphorus in Istanbul.
On the other side, China -the factory of the world- has been transforming from an export-led
economic model to a consumption- driven one. Such economic changes turn transportation
patterns into a more complex form.
While rail travel from London to Hong Kong becomes possible, infrastructural shortfalls, legal
and administrative barriers on this route need to be removed. The only missing infrastructure
portion of the Silk Road through the Caspian Corridor, Turkish section of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars
(BTK) Railway has to be completed as early as possible.

C A S P I AN S T R AT E G Y I N S T I T U T E
THE HEART OF SILK ROAD CASPIAN TRANSIT
( HASEN)
CORRIDOR IS WAITING FOR TURKEY
www.hazar.or g

According to our latest Caspian Transit Corridor report published on August 2015 which
is an outcome of a comprehensive field study on Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan and
Kazakhstan, the delay in the realization of the BTK Project has strengthened Georgias hand
for transportation both on the Central Asia-Europe and Russia-Caspian routes with new
infrastructure investments. It has also brought forward the projects that run through the Black
Sea linked to Georgias Poti and Anaklia Ports -bypassing Turkey- as a result of the pressure
of China-based freight being transported over Kazakhstan. These constitute a threat against
Turkeys political and economic stance in the region.
Haldun YAVA

HALDUN YAVAS

H A L D U N Y AVA

www.hazar.org