Mikhail Alexandrov: Armenia's regional importance grewSeptember 30, 2008 - 18:39 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - It was clear from the first that the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Baku (KAB) is expensive and economically inexpedient, a Russian expert said. "The only "advantage" of this project was a political goal to isolate Armenia," Caucasus expert at the Institute of CIS Studies Mikhail Alexandrov told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. "However, the South Ossetian crisis made Turkey more cautious about political projects. Here, Russia's influence on this country should not be underestimated. Ankara has understood that the West's further penetration in the Caucasus is pregnant with grave economic consequences. Security of energy sources transportation can also be jeopardized. Baku-Supsa oil pipeline has already been closed while Baku-Novorossiysk has been enabled," he said. "Under the circumstances, Kars-Gyumri is cheaper and more secure that the KAB. I can presume that Armenia's regional importance has grown," the expert said. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |