Bypass of Armenia is real geopolitical aim of Kars-Baku railway project

PanARMENIAN.Net - The expected rapprochement of Baku and Tbilisi has been proved economically. The Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway project is essential for Turkey and Azerbaijan first of all, since the real geopolitical aim of the project is bypass of Armenia, head of the department of international relations at the institute of political and military studies Sergey Markedonov said in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net He reminded that the existing Kars-Gyumri branch line has not been used since mid 1990-ies. "Economic expedience of the project is not clear yet. It's is mostly likely targeted at the future and supposed to become one of the most important transport corridors lining the East and West. Even the assistance of one of the most "substantial players", the U.S., proved unessential for the implementation of the project. As you know in July 2006 the House of representatives banned any funding of construction of a railroad bypassing Armenia. The U.S. Congressmen stood against Armenia's isolation. The Resolution H.R. 5068 says that the "taxpayers' money will not be used for a greater isolation of Armenia, which still suffers double blockade imposed by Turkey and Azerbaijan," said the Russian political scientist.



According to him, the U.S. leaders are far from building a "vertical line" and both the State Department and White House should reckon with the opinion of the Congressmen and influential Armenian lobby. "Meanwhile the U.S. administration's stance is also known and, no doubt, certain "administrative resource" will be used for supporting the project. Not all is measured by money. Information support and positioning in favor of the "railway variant of Baku-Ceyhan" is worth something. Anyway, the fault Russia committed in late 2006, namely the energy pressure on Azerbaijan, resulted in boost of cooperation between Baku, Tbilisi, Ankara and a part of Washington's establishment. Meanwhile such cooperation did not seem obvious in July 2006, when the decision of Congressmen transformed the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku into a virtual project, especially since relationships between Ankara and Washington aroused many questions both in Turkey and American establishments," Markedonov said.

Full text of the interview