BUILDING KARS-AKHALKALAKI RAILWAY TO BE DISCUSSED IN TURKEY
PanArmenian News Network
Aug 1 2005
01.08.2005 07:46
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Ministers of Transport of Turkey, Azerbaijan and
Georgia will soon meet in Istanbul to discuss project of building
Kars (Turkey)-Akhalkalaki (Georgia)-Tbilisi-Baku railway. It should
be reminded that earlier Co-Chairs of the US Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and George
Radanovich (R-CA) submitted a bill to the House of Representatives
banning the US assistance to the Kars-Akhalkalaki project avoiding the
already existing branch line of Kars-Gyumri (Armenia)- Akhalkalaki. In
Knollenberg’s words, “depriving Armenia of economic and commercial
rights will harm US long-term regional interests.” It should be noted
that Kars-Akhalkalaki new railway length will make 98km, 68 of which
pass through the territory of Turkey and 30 – through Georgia. Some
$500 million will be necessary to implement the project. The railway
is planned to be put into operation in the end of 2008. It should also
be noted that a Declaration on the creation of international transport
rail corridor Kars-Tbilisi-Baku was signed by Presidents of Azerbaijan,
Georgia and Turkey in Baku May 25. The Kars-Akhalkalaki railway will
be built within the framework of the Declaration. Armenian authorities
are also discontent with the building of the railway. Specifically,
in Transport Minister A. Manukyan’s words, the railway is unfavorable
both to Armenia and the region. Besides, in his words, Armenia will be
isolated and the project, as different from the Kars-Gyumri road, is
not approved by TRACECA. Manukyan also noted that the next day after
the blockade of the Armenian-Turkish border is lifted the Armenian
party will be able to receive load via Kars-Gyumri line: “the Armenian
part of the railway and the border terminal are in a perfect technical
condition.” “We are also ready to provide beneficial transit tariffs
to the Turkish party,” Manukyan noted, reported IA Regnum.