ARMENIAN LOBBY IN THE USA AGAINST KARS-AKHALKALAKI RAILWAY
The Messenger, Georgia
April 4 2006
The Turkish company Yuksel Domonik has elaborated upon their technical
and economic plan for the construction of the Kars-Akhalkalaki
railway – a 98 kilometer project which is estimated to cost between
USD 350-450 million.
In addition to building a railway line between Kars and Akhalkalaki,
a railway line running from Kars in Turkey, across Georgia to Baku
is being considered at an estimated cost of USD 800 million.
A working group on the project is planned to be held in April between
the tripartite railway administration of Georgia, Azerbaijan and
Turkey. The three countries’ Ministers of Transport will then discuss
the recommendations of the working group at the end of April/beginning
of May, reports the newspaper Khvalindeli Dghe.
Meanwhile the influential and extremely active Armenian lobby in
the U.S. is engaging in a campaign to convince America that the
Kars-Akhalkalaki railway should not be built. U.S. Senators Rick
Santorum (R-PA) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) have submitted a bill to
the Senate that would bar U.S. investment in the railway construction
project because it bypasses the territory of Armenia.
“The planned construction of the railway in the South Caucasus will
not only impinge on the USA’s long-term interests in the region, but
will also result in Armenia’s isolation. The USA’s policy in the South
Caucasus encourages regional stability, cooperation and re-opening
of borders and transport corridors,” said Santorum According to the
web site armeniandiaspora.com.
Georgian analysts consider the Kars-Akhalkalaki project to be in-line
with U.S. strategic interests. According to the newspaper Resonansi,
analyst Ramaz Klimiashvili said “It is profitable for the USA to
complete the project; particularly if the freight which is currently
transported from Central Asia via Russia, is transported along this
route instead. Saying that this project is politically negative for the
U.S. is just ridiculous. Turkey is a NATO member country and freight
would pass via those countries that are also controlled by NATO.”
According to local analysts, despite the Armenian lobby being very
strong in the U.S. Senate it should not be allowed to prevent the
construction of this railway. The U.S. Senate should only consider
a lobby if it serves the interests of its citizens.