The European Union is ready to back any regional processes promoting the European integration, EU Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner stated at a press conference in Yerevan. “However the European Union will not finance the Kars-Akhalkalaki railway construction, since the project leaves out Armenia what conflicts with the European Neighborhood Policy,” she said.
To note, the extension of the Kars-Akhalkalaki railway makes 98 km. 68 km – in Turkey and 30 km – in Georgia. The railway is supposed to be put into operation in late 2008. The project demands $500 million. It should be noted that Armenia is against the construction rating it as economically inexpedient, since it becomes a counterbalance to the existing Kars-Gyumri-Tbili-Baku railway.
