PanARMENIAN.Net

Kars-Baku project became possible due to Russia’s shortsightedness
17.02.2007 13:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Animation of the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Baku railway
project became possible due to Russia’s shortsighted policy aimed to
restrain CIS `obstinate’ member states, head of the department of
international relations at the institute of political and military
studies Sergey Markedonov said in an interview with
PanARMENIAN.Net. In his words, the matter first of all concerns
Georgia. `By applying sanctions against Tbilisi Moscow anchored hope
with Georgia’s neighbors. Closing of Verkhni Lars checkpoint at the
Russian-Georgian border July 7-8, 2006 aroused ambiguous reactions in
Yerevan. Plenty of questions emerged between Armenia and Russia. RA
vice-speaker Vahan Hovhanniasian tied the checkpoint closure with
tensed Russian-Georgian relations. `Russian counterparts should
understand that the steps targeted against Georgia are harmful for
Armenia as well and maximal flexibility is needed in such
circumstances,’ he said at that time. The point is that all vital for
Armenia communications are stretching via Georgia. However, Yerevan’s
discontent has a political motive as well. Deterioration of
Armenian-Georgian relations is not profitable for Armenia,’ the
Russian political scientist said.

According to him, situation in the Armenian-inhabited Javakheti region
of Georgia is far from being stable and Yerevan clearly understands
that Armenia will not stand a second Karabakh. `Armenia’s disinterest
in Kremlin’s policy for restraining Georgia proceeds from this
fact. Thus, Yerevan tries to maintain maximal reasonableness even
somehow conniving the alarming situation in Javakhk through which a
sector of the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku is supposed to pass,’
underscored Markedonov.