COMMERSANT: MOSCOW MAY ENABLE PRESSURE OF ARMENIA UPON GEORGIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.10.2006 15:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ One of leading Russian newspapers, the Commersant
believes that Moscow may enable pressure of Armenia on Georgia. An
article published on Monday concerns the visit of Armenian President
to Moscow October 30-31.

Robert Kocharian met with Russian President Putin on Monday. The
newspaper supposes Georgia will be the subject of conversation. "The
Kremlin is looking for tools to influence Georgian President
Saakashvili.

Tbilisi fears that one of the tools to influence Georgia may be
suspension of electric power supplies from Russia and Armenia. Georgia
will be in a catastrophic position then," the Commersant writes.

The article does not rule out Moscow asking Armenia to organize
"small disorders" in the southern province of Samtskhe-Javakheti,
where some 200 thousand Armenians live.

Georgian experts do not rule out these developments, as Armenia depends
on Russia in the political and economic respects. At the same time
Armenia cannot have a confrontation with Georgia, as it is the only
way, linking with Russia and European countries.

"Russia has already appropriated Iran-Armenia gas pipeline and the
Hrazdan thermal electric power plant.

Now Russia works to appropriate the rail network of Armenia. Yerevan
is going to organize a tender for conveying ownership of the railway
for 30 years, but President Putin will try to persuade his Armenian
counterpart the tender is not necessary and Russia will take care of
the railway of Armenia," reports Prime News.