USA NOT TO FINANCE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY, BYPASSING ARMENIA

Regnum, Russia
June 15 2006

Financial Commission of US Congress House of Representatives
decided not to finance construction of Kars (Turkey)-Akhalkalaki
(Georgia)-Tbilisi-Baku railway, bypassing Armenia (making a detour
around existing but not functioning, because of closed Armenian-Turkish
border, Kars-Gumri (Armenia)-Tbilisi-Baku railway, the Armenian
American Assembly informs.

It is worth reminding that earlier a group of Armenia’s support at US
Congress, headed by Congressmen Frank Pallone and Joe Knollenberg,
sent letter to US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice, requesting to
desist from the project’s financing because it contradicts long-term
regional interests of Washington. Earlier, several European politicians
stated on inexpediency of financing of the project, as any other
communication on a detour around Armenia, because they believe that
Turkey should normalize its relations with all neighboring countries,
including Armenia, entering into the EU, as well as to unblock its
border with Armenia. Armenian specialists tend to point of view
that construction of railway from Turkey to Georgia, and further to
Azerbaijan around Armenia will stop Armenia’s communication wishes,
fully completing its isolation. Additionally, Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi
railway construction is not included into international TRACEKA
program. Armenian officials oppose to the project too. In particular,
Armenian Minister of Transport and Communication Andranik Manoukyan
stated earlier that Armenia was going to do the utmost to prevent
construction of Kars-Akhalkalaki railway because it is unprofitable
for both Armenia and the whole region.

It is worth reminding that earlier Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan stated that Azerbaijan and Georgia had no moral
right to grant money from their budgets for construction of
Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway. According to him, it is
nonsense to invest money into construction of the railway because the
abovementioned countries are already connected by an existing railway,
passing through the Armenian territory. According to preliminary
calculation, construction of 98 km long Kars-Akhalkalaki railway,
as well as modernization of Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi railway, will cost
$400-500 mln.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress