Congressional Record: July 20, 2005
>>From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

SOUTH CAUCASUS OPEN RAIL LINK ACT
HON. JOE KNOLLENBERG
of michigan
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, July 20, 2005

Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, United States foreign policy toward the
South Caucasus nations is one of fostering regional stability and
enhanced cooperation. I rise today to bring attention to the great
injustice in relations in this region.

I speak today to stress my opposition and to move forward with
legislation contesting the proposed railroad connecting Tbilisi,
Georgia and Kars, Turkey. The proposed railroad would systematically
bypass Armenia, and push them further into isolation.

As we all know, Turkey and Armenia have their differences. Although
it is counterproductive to list those differences, instead I want to
highlight the fact that it goes against United States policy to be
in a position that further advances the turmoil in this region, The
proposed legislation would bar U.S. support and funding for a rail
link connecting Georgia and Turkey, but which directly averts Armenia.

Eight years ago, the former Turkish president and the former Georgian
president meant to discuss the railroad that would “open a third
frontier crossing between the two countries,” providing further
commerce and economic opportunity for the South Caucasus region. Both
countries would benefit immensely from this railroad.

While I will always support commerce-based proposals that spawn
economic development around the world, this proposal initiates
commerce at the cost of another country’s economic development. This
is unacceptable.

This railroad would cost between $400-$800 million to construct,
while a perfectly workable and capable rail link already exists. It
is evident to all that this new rail system is being proposed for
the specific reason of diverting commerce around Armenia.

The construction of the proposed railroad would be equivalent to the
people of Ohio building a new bridge to Canada just to avoid traveling
through Michigan. The United States government would never condone
this action, and we should not be in the practice of condoning the
actions set forth by the Turkish government.

The existing rail would be available for use within weeks of an
agreement between Armenia, Turkey, and Georgia. Furthermore, the
Armenian people are willing to forego using the rail until normal
relations with Turkey are established. Mr. Speaker, although normal
relations may still take some time, there is no reason to further
shut Armenia out of the equation.

Moreover, the building of this railroad also highlights the ongoing
struggle between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Known by all, Azerbaijan’s
main goal is to strangle Armenia into submission of Nagorno-Karabakh.

This railroad does just that.

The United States and other countries around the world, including
Turkey, need to allow these two countries to agree upon a solution
regarding Nagorno-Karabakh. It is necessary that third parties
remain neutral. The proposed railroad not only stunts the diplomatic
progress between Armenia, Turkey and Azerbaijan, it unnecessarily
blocks Armenia’s economic and political progress.

I encourage my colleagues to look at the facts of this situation. The
existing rail link would be available essentially as soon as possible
and it would take a minimal amount of funding in order to get it
usable again. Whereas, a new rail link would take months if not years
to build, and would cost an estimated $400-$800 million. There should
be no question as to which plan the United States supports.