U.S DISAPPROVES KARS-AKHALKALAKI-TBILISI -BAKU RAILWAY PROJECT BYPASS ARMENIA
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Jan 9 2007
"This year is memorable for me with a lot of meetings with officials.
I think that I have met Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
more that my family members. From strategical point of view it was
successful year for Azerbaijani-U.S. relations.
President Ilham Aliyev’s visit was the important move for the
strengthening of the relations," OSCE Minsk Group co-chair Metyu Bryza
said, APA reports quoting to AzerTaj State Agency. Stressing that
Azerbaijani president expressed the priorities for the development of
Azerbaijan, the renovation of political situation, liberalization of
political system to the official of the U.S, Bryza called First Lady
Mehriban Aliyeva’s visit to America successful. The official also
stressed that 2006 was successful year in the sphere of energy and
stated about the importance of increasing gas production together
with Euroatlantic community, penetration the main European markets
and decisions on covering the country’s demand for natural gas and
electricity on its own resources.
"It is a great achievement for Azerbaijan. Generally, 2006 was positive
for our relations," the official underscored.
Metyu Bryza was optimistic while expressing his attitude to the rise of
charges for gas by Russia. He considered the cooperation of Azerbaijani
and Georgia relations in winter season as the fact for achievement of
strengthening of independence. Stressing that by this way it served to
the interests of private sectors that had great role in the development
of economy and energy sector of Azerbaijan, Metyu Bryza said that the
cooperation of Azerbaijan and Georgia is not implemented for the U.S.
"This cooperation does not meet our demands. The U.S will never
use Azerbaijani gas. But we are interested in Azerbaijani gas. The
strengthening of the independences of Azerbaijan and Georgia increases
the productivity of European markets. Saying that they wish for the
realization of Trans-Caspian gas project, Metyu Bryza also expressed
their desires for reaching to the agreement for Turkmenistan borders
in the Caspian Sea. Bryza said that President George Bush signed a
law that banned financing of Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway
project and this move should not be treated as the opposition of
the country to this law. Bryza noted that they have always supported
projects for the increase of transport relations.
"We try to develop all projects which consider the join all country
along East-West corridor. We wish Turkey Azerbaijan railway would
have crossed through Armenia. First, it reflect our policy, second,
it is more logical to cross Georgia territory through Armenia. But we
can not pass this decision. If Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia want
to relies this project, we can not oppose it. But we do not support
this project. We hope that, we will the victim of the transport scheme
that will cover all the countries of the region," the official said.