TBILISI: Kars-Akhalkalaki-Baku Railway ‘Creates Unhealthy Atmosphere

KARS-AKHALKALAKI-BAKU RAILWAY ‘CREATES UNHEALTHY ATMOSPHERE’
By M. Alkhazashvili
(Translated by Diana Dundua)

The Messenger, Georgia
March 13 2007

Armenia is still against Kars-Akhalkalaki-Baku railway construction.

On March 9, Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vardan Oskanyan stated
this project will not damage the country as the Turkish-Armenian
border remains closed, but from the political viewpoint the railway
project creates an unhealthy atmosphere in the region.

"From the political point of view, the project produces a negative
atmosphere in the region, particularly, it affects the formation
of favourable relations," the minister said reports the news agency
Regnum.

Oskanian mentioned Kazakhstan’s possible participation in the project
and said that last year during the meeting between the Armenian and
Kazakh sides he said the Kazakh side "did not appear very optimistic"
adding "Maybe, they have changed their attitude, but I know nothing
about it."