Railway

[Joseph]

USA not to finance construction of railway, bypassing Armenia

The Financial Commission of US Congress House of Representatives decided not to finance construction of Kars (Turkey)-Akhalkalaki (Georgia)-Tbilisi-Baku railway, bypassing Armenia (making a detour around existing but not functioning, because of closed Armenian-Turkish border, Kars-Gumri (Armenia)-Tbilisi-Baku railway, the Armenian American Assembly informs.

It is worth reminding that earlier a group of Armenia’s support at US Congress, headed by Congressmen Frank Pallone and Joe Knollenberg, sent letter to US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice, requesting to desist from the project’s financing because it contradicts long-term regional interests of Washington. Earlier, several European politicians stated on inexpediency of financing of the project, as any other communication on a detour around Armenia, because they believe that Turkey should normalize its relations with all neighboring countries, including Armenia, entering into the EU, as well as to unblock its border with Armenia. Armenian specialists tend to point of view that construction of railway from Turkey to Georgia, and further to Azerbaijan around Armenia will stop Armenia’s communication wishes, fully completing its isolation. Additionally, Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi railway construction is not included into international TRACEKA program. Armenian officials oppose to the project too. In particular, Armenian Minister of Transport and Communication Andranik Manoukyan stated earlier that Armenia was going to do the utmost to prevent construction of Kars-Akhalkalaki railway because it is unprofitable for both Armenia and the whole region.

It is worth reminding that earlier Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan stated that Azerbaijan and Georgia had no moral right to grant money from their budgets for construction of Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway. According to him, it is nonsense to invest money into construction of the railway because the abovementioned countries are already connected by an existing railway, passing through the Armenian territory. According to preliminary calculation, construction of 98 km long Kars-Akhalkalaki railway, as well as modernization of Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi railway, will cost $400-500 mln.

[Tongue]

It's a shame that we can't have good relations with Georgia.. our only Christian neighbor.

[Joseph]

It's a shame that we can't have good relations with Georgia.. our only Christian neighbor.

You can blame their succesion of rulers: Gamsakhurdia, Shevranadze, and now Saakashvili. Things will get better though if they can deal with the Javakh issue.


This is a good sign:

During Summer Months Trains Will Work In Yerevan-Batumi Direction
June 15, ArmRadio.am. Starting today trains will work in Yerevan-Batumi direction and vice versa. To organize the summer rest of the population at Black Sea resorts, the decision was taken still last year at the sitting of the Intergovernmental Armenian-Georgian Economic Cooperation Commission.
RA Ministry of Transport and Communication informs that the trains will consist of six two-person and four-person carriages and a carriage-restaurant. Yerevan-Batumi train will head from Yerevan to Batumi on odd days of the month, and on even days it will start from Batumi to Yerevan. On the territory of Armenia the train will have stations in Yerevan, Armavir, Gyumri, Vanadzorand and Sanahin. One-way ticket for two-person carriages of Armenian railways will cost 18 703 drams, the ticket for four-person carriages will cost 9 297 drams. The costs for using Georgian trains are 21 256 and 10 542 correspondingly.

[Tongue]

Armenian-Georgian Relations Tend to Worsen

16.06.2006 14:06 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian-Georgian relations tend to worsen, Sergey Sargsyan, an expert of Spectrum, the Center for Strategic Analysis stated in Yerevan. In his words, the aggravation is conditioned by the change of the geopolitical situation in the region. “The weakening of the political and economic influence of Russia and strengthening of the role of the U.S. in the South Caucasus led to the change of priorities. Over this reason the states of the region are forced to reconsider their concept of the security system. In Sagrsyan’s opinion, the change of the Turkish military-political doctrine, availability of conflicts and membership in various blocs also have a negative impact on the situation. “Azerbaijan and Georgia are aspired for the NATO, Armenia is more bent to Iran and is a CSTO member state. There is also a problem of economic and transport expenses between Armenia and Georgia. However the most painful issue in the Armenian-Georgian relations is the problem of Samtskhe Javakhetia,” the expert underscored.

For his part expert of the Georgian Institute of Peace, Democracy and Development Paata Zakareishvili remarked that Georgia is not pursuing an anti-Armenian policy in Javakhetia. “I agree, the roads are in a bad state there, but this is the trouble of whole Georgia. We have bad roads everywhere. As for the compulsory study of the Georgian language in schools, it is necessary for the Armenians of Javakhk first of all. The Armenian population can show their capabilities with the knowledge of the state language only. Matters stand this way in all states and Georgia is not an exception,” Paata Zakareishvili said adding that Armenians make 54% of Javakheti population.

[Joseph]

Economy
Armenian Company to Build Georgia-Armenia 330-MW Power Line
Armenia’s company is to carry out construction of 330-megawatt power transmission line between Georgia and Armenia.
Energy Minister Nika Gilauri says Armenian company has won the tender of Georgian Energy Ministry and the company is now negotiated around the details.
The Armenian company will start construction of the transmission line in the near future and allegedly, it will be over at the end of this year.
330-megwatt-power transmission line will be stretched out 100 kilometers and it will cost GEL 20-24 million.

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