Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am, Armenia
Sept 5 2009

Turkish press: EU to involve Armenia in Nabucco project at Georgia’s
expense

13:07 / 09/05/2009According to the Turkey-based Star newspaper, the
European Union (EU), which rendered great assistance to Armenia and
Turkey in reaching an agreement, wants the planned Nabucco natural gas
pipeline to run through Armenia, not Georgia, as a transit
country. The normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations may be
accompanied by changes in the regional energy balance. Armenia was
announced a prospective participant in the Nabucco project.

According to anonymous sources at the Turkish Ministry of Energy and
Natural Resources, the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement will alter the
energy project routes. A high-ranking representative of the Turkish
energy sector, the EU’s long-lasting wish has been Armenia’s
involvement in the Nabucco project. France was especially active in
promoting Armenia’s participation. The EU does not want the pipeline
to be laid along the Georgian territory to avert new risks. So Armenia
is considered an alternative in energy projects as well. Caspian
energy resources will be transported to Europe through Armenia and
Turkey. This route is regarded not only as an alternative, but also as
the safest one.

According to the source, Armenia’s participation in the Nabucco
project was on the agenda, but the issue was not considered because of
the discussions on the Armenian Genocide. Turkey set a veto on
France’s participation in the project, and Germany was involved.

Other projects awaiting Armenian-Turkish rapprochement

The London-Beijing railway: In 2007, when the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars
railway construction project was launched, a statement was made that
the project was to be implemented for peace and stability. All
countries, including Armenia, were invited to take part in the
project.

The highway bypassing the Black Sea: The following Black Sea countries
will participate in the construction of a 7,000-long highway: Turkey,
Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Armenia, Albania,
Azerbaijan, Moldova and Serbia.

Air communication: The open borders will contribute to trade and
cultural communication. The Yerevan-Istanbul flights will be more
frequent, and the Ankara-Yerevan air route will be opened.

The TRACECA and INOGATE projects are ahead.