ARMENIAN EXPERT CONSIDERS THAT KARS-AKHALKALAK-TBILISI-BAKU RAILWAY WILL BE BUILT FOR ALL THAT
Noyan Tapan
Feb 06 2007
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, NOYAN TAPAN. "The policy of Turkey aimed
at Armenia’s isolation in the region contradicts the policy of
U.S., as the latter is against creation of dividing lines in the
region." Stepan Safarian, Head of Studies of Armenian Center for
National and International Studies, declared this in his interview to
Noyan Tapan correspondent. In his words, the project of construction
of Kars-Akhalkalak-Tbilisi-Baku railway corridor bypassing Armenia
complicates Turkish-American relations for even more. And this is the
cause of negative position to the project by the official Washington.
Last year U.S. Congress adopted a law prohibiting American banks to
finance the construction of the above mentioned railway. However, in
S.Safarian’s words, this does not mean that the construction project
will not be implemented.
Soon representatives of Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan are
to meet for signing an agreement on starting construction of
Kars-Akhalkalak-Tbilisi-Baku railway in early summer of current year.
The expert reminded that during the discussion of the construction
project of Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline the West was inclined to see the
oil pipeline’s passing through the territory of Armenia as well. In
spite of this, the oil pipeline bypassed Armenia.
Meanwhile S.Safarian did not exclude that U.S. will again try to
exert great influence on Turkey by using draft Resolution N 316 to
be considered in the Congress. The draft calls on to recognize the
Armenian Genocide, which, naturally, will strengthen the positions
of Armenian lobbying for even more.
However, if Turkey "introduces some corrections into its policy
in the Near East where U.S. is currently alone against the Arab
world," the Jewish lobbying will not permit adoption of Resolution
N 316. Certainly, Armenia will suffer in this case, the isolation of
which will strengthen for even more.