Another Attempt to Isolate Armenia from Regional Economic ProjectsMarch 21, 2006 - 18:06 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Resumption of Abkhaz part of the railway beneficial not only to Armenia, but also to the region on the whole, expert economist Eduard Aghajanov stated in a conversation with a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In Aghajanov's words, the route through Abkhazia is shorter, cheaper and more secure that the alternative railway Russia is going to build via Iran and Azerbaijan. Russia-Iran road is part of the North-South program, however, it is hard to say to which extent it is economically profitable than the already available Abkhazian one. One thing is out of question - it is another attempt to isolate Armenia from regional economic projects. I will add that access to Europe is also very profitable via Abkhazia. A purely political consideration underlies all these projects - either Kars-Akhalkalaki-Baku or Russia-Iran-Azerbaijan,» he emphasized.The matter of resumption of operation of the Abkhaz part of the railway was discussed at a session of the Armenian-Russian Interparliamentary Commission in Moscow. In the words of Armenian Co-Chair, NA Vice-Speaker Vahan Hovhannisyan, Russia's intention to build an alternative Russia-Iran road through Azerbaijan will reduce interest to the opening of rail communication through Abkhazia. He remarked that a consortium is formed with participation of four parties interested in running the Abkhaz part of the railway. However, Russia, in his words, has not presented its representative yet, thus hampering consortium's activities. Vahan Hovhannisyan said that a meeting of the consortium will be held in Yerevan in the coming days with participation of all four parties. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | 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. Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. |