USA DID NOT SUPPORT KARS-AKHALKALAKI-TBILISI-BAKU RAILWAY PROJECT

Yerevan, January 10. ArmInfo. "Year 2006 has remained in one’s memory
by numerous meetings with Azerbaijani officials. It seems to me I have
met with the Foreign Minister, Elmar Mamediarov in 2006 more often
than with my family. From the strategic viewpoint, the year 2006 was
successful in relations between the USA and Azerbaijan. The visit
of AR President Ilham Aliyev has become an important moment in the
development of relations", the deputy State Secretary for the issues of
Europe and Asia, OSCE MG Cochairman, Mathew Bryza, said, APA informs.

Having underlined that the President of Azerbaijan had informed the
USA officials about the development of Azerbaijan, the novelty of
the political atmosphere, liberalization of the political system, M.

Bryza has also called the visit the First Lady of Azerbaijan,
Mehriban Aliyeva to Washington very successful. He also underlined
that the year 2006 has become important in cooperation in the energy
sphere. M. Bryza has expressed optimism, commenting on the increase
of prices by Russia for the natural gas import to Azerbaijan. M.
Bryza stressed he is against of perception of the USA opposition to
the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway project after the President
Bush has signed a law that prohibits the project financing. "We have
always supported the projects aimed at strengthening the transport
relations. We try to develop al the projects, I repeat, all the
projects which unite all the countries, located in long the East-West
Corridor. Of course, we would like the railway, which will connect
Turkey and Baku, to pass through Armenia", the diplomat said. First,
because it reflects out policy, secondly, connection of Turkey and
Georgia is more expedient through the territory of Armenia from the
economic viewpoint. However, we cannot resolve on it. The investors
themselves advance an investment diagram, profitable for them. If
Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey wish to lay a railway, we cannot object
it. However, we do not specially support this project and hope to
shortly become witnesses of a transport diagram, covering all the
countries of the region", M. Bryza said.