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Railway Market Magazine, Poland
Feb 2 2007
Georgia: Political storm clouds still surround new rail link
Although the financing, engineering and logistical issues surrounding
the construction of the Kars-Akhalkalaki railway have been largely
solved, the political concerns surrounding the project remain.
Armenian President Robert Kocharian's Press Secretary Victor
Sogomonian recently reiterated Yerevan's opposition to the project,
saying Armenia would use "political methods" to hamper the project's
implementation.
"The fact that the US refused to sponsor the building of the railway
was the result of appropriate steps taken by Yerevan," explained
Sogomonian, as quoted by the newspaper Rezonansi.
Russia, a staunch Armenian ally, is also against the railway's
construction. This would be unlikely to deter Georgia, were it not
for the fact that their main patron and strategic partner, the United
States, has also voiced its opposition to the project. The US
recently passed a bill forbidding American financing of the railway's
construction, out of fear that the railway will further isolate
Armenia, whose borders with both Azerbaijan and Turkey have been
closed since the early 90s.
According to the chair of the parliamentary Committee on European
Integration, David Bakradze, Georgia will not ignore its own
interests because of American opposition. However, Bakradze also
mentions that the US is not "totally" against the railway.
Some Georgian analysts agree with Bakradze on this.
"As a rule, if the US is against something, it does its best to make
sure it doesn't happen. In this case the situation is different,"
explains analyst Mamuka Areshidze in the newspaper Kvela Siakhle.
The analyst says the US's position regarding the railway is
ill-defined. US diplomat Matt Bryza has said that despite being
against any regional project that bypasses Armenia, America will not
disturb its implementation.
Deputy US Ambassador to Armenia Anthony Godfrey made a similar
statement several days ago, reports the newspaper Rezonansi.
The US and Armenia both fear the railway will add to Armenia's
isolation, but this itself is questionable. Georgia is trying to show
the potential benefits the railway could bring Armenia, which already
conducts a large amount of trade with Turkey via Georgia.
"Georgia cannot change the relationship that exists between Armenia
and Azerbaijan and Armenia and Turkey. But Armenia will still profit
from this project because the railway will allow Armenia improved
access to European products," explains Bakradze in the newspaper
Kvela Siakhle.
Feb 2 2007
Georgia: Political storm clouds still surround new rail link
Although the financing, engineering and logistical issues surrounding
the construction of the Kars-Akhalkalaki railway have been largely
solved, the political concerns surrounding the project remain.
Armenian President Robert Kocharian's Press Secretary Victor
Sogomonian recently reiterated Yerevan's opposition to the project,
saying Armenia would use "political methods" to hamper the project's
implementation.
"The fact that the US refused to sponsor the building of the railway
was the result of appropriate steps taken by Yerevan," explained
Sogomonian, as quoted by the newspaper Rezonansi.
Russia, a staunch Armenian ally, is also against the railway's
construction. This would be unlikely to deter Georgia, were it not
for the fact that their main patron and strategic partner, the United
States, has also voiced its opposition to the project. The US
recently passed a bill forbidding American financing of the railway's
construction, out of fear that the railway will further isolate
Armenia, whose borders with both Azerbaijan and Turkey have been
closed since the early 90s.
According to the chair of the parliamentary Committee on European
Integration, David Bakradze, Georgia will not ignore its own
interests because of American opposition. However, Bakradze also
mentions that the US is not "totally" against the railway.
Some Georgian analysts agree with Bakradze on this.
"As a rule, if the US is against something, it does its best to make
sure it doesn't happen. In this case the situation is different,"
explains analyst Mamuka Areshidze in the newspaper Kvela Siakhle.
The analyst says the US's position regarding the railway is
ill-defined. US diplomat Matt Bryza has said that despite being
against any regional project that bypasses Armenia, America will not
disturb its implementation.
Deputy US Ambassador to Armenia Anthony Godfrey made a similar
statement several days ago, reports the newspaper Rezonansi.
The US and Armenia both fear the railway will add to Armenia's
isolation, but this itself is questionable. Georgia is trying to show
the potential benefits the railway could bring Armenia, which already
conducts a large amount of trade with Turkey via Georgia.
"Georgia cannot change the relationship that exists between Armenia
and Azerbaijan and Armenia and Turkey. But Armenia will still profit
from this project because the railway will allow Armenia improved
access to European products," explains Bakradze in the newspaper
Kvela Siakhle.