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.
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