Ministers of Transport of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia will soon meet in Istanbul to discuss project of building Kars (Turkey)-Akhalkalaki (Georgia)-Tbilisi-Baku railway. It should be reminded that earlier Co-Chairs of the US Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and George Radanovich (R-CA) submitted a bill to the House of Representatives banning the US assistance to the Kars-Akhalkalaki project avoiding the already existing branch line of Kars-Gyumri (Armenia)- Akhalkalaki. In Knollenberg’s words, “depriving Armenia of economic and commercial rights will harm US long-term regional interests.” It should be noted that Kars-Akhalkalaki new railway length will make 98km, 68 of which pass through the territory of Turkey and 30 – through Georgia. Some $500 million will be necessary to implement the project. The railway is planned to be put into operation in the end of 2008. It should also be noted that a Declaration on the creation of international transport rail corridor Kars-Tbilisi-Baku was signed by Presidents of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey in Baku May 25. The Kars-Akhalkalaki railway will be built within the framework of the Declaration. Armenian authorities are also discontent with the building of the railway. Specifically, in Transport Minister A. Manukyan’s words, the railway is unfavorable both to Armenia and the region. Besides, in his words, Armenia will be isolated and the project, as different from the Kars-Gyumri road, is not approved by TRACECA. Manukyan also noted that the next day after the blockade of the Armenian-Turkish border is lifted the Armenian party will be able to receive load via Kars-Gyumri line: “the Armenian part of the railway and the border terminal are in a perfect technical condition.” “We are also ready to provide beneficial transit tariffs to the Turkish party,” Manukyan noted, reported IA Regnum.
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