US CONGRESS BLOCKS LOAN FOR CAUCASUS RAILWAY PROJECT
By Cihan News Agency

Zaman, Turkey
Dec 7 2006

The US House of Representatives has approved a resolution to prevent
the US Export-Import Bank (Eximbank) from financing the construction
of a railway project which would connect Turkey with Georgia and
Azerbaijan.

Armenia, which is not included in the project, is said to be the
reason for the denial.

Joseph Crowley, Democrat congressman from New York, presented a
resolution barring Eximbank from financing the Caucasus railway
project.

Crowley, who is well known for his support of the Armenian lobby,
said that the project would not be passed because the 258-kilometer
railway bypasses Armenia.

"This is an illegal economic blockade towards an important country
in the Caucasian area", he stated.

The amendment was approved without opposition in the House of
Representatives, the lower house of the US Congress.

A statement from Crowley’s office said that the Senate would receive
a similar bill as well and the amendment was expected to become law
before the end of the month.