Historical-economic backgrounds of transport-transit systems’ conjunction of Russia and countries of West and South Asia Part I
In the article are reviewed the historical-economic description of the organization of trade, overland and maritime transport of goods over long distances, the functioning of the nodal points of transit communications ("caravan cities") in West and South Asia. The basic modern projects of development of transport-transit system (TTS) in the countries of Western Asia coupled with the implementation of the global infrastructure-integrative initiatives are considered. Special attention is paid to analysis of the current state and prospects of modernization of the transport sector of Iran's economy, which is claiming the status of a nodal point of intersection of international communications in the directions "East - West" and "North - South". The favorable prospects for the development of TTS Azerbaijan, as a result of the state's balanced foreign and economic policy, and favorable opportunities of Armenia due to the isolation of the country, difficult mountain conditions, and continuation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict are revealed. А reasonable conclusion is made: in the case of conjunction of TTS of Russia and Iran application of Azerbaijan's infrastructure looks better. There are reviewed the most important projects for the development of TTS of Israel as a country with substantial opportunities to attract financial resources and having armed forces able to ensure the safety of the transportation process. The proposals for the restoration of transit significance of Syria after the normalization of the military-political situation in the country are made. The main directions of development of TTS Egypt and Turkey - the major competitors in the conjunction process of TTS of Russia and West Asia - are reviewed. Special attention is paid to development of the economic zone of Suez canal, analysis of the possibilities of using tunnel "Marmaray" for the passage of transit traffic. The analysis of the status and trends of modernization and development of TTS of India and Pakistan - countries that have the most significant impact on the prospects of pairing TTS Russia and South Asia - is given.