RUSSIA IS INTERESTED IN THE BLOCKADE OF ARMENIA?

PanARMENIAN.Net - It is quite obvious that the project has more political than economic aims. As it is known, there already exists a road that connects Iran to Russia. The road passes through Julfa-Nakhichevan-Ararat section, which is currently closed. The refusal of Azerbaijan to open the road is just a caprice since the Karabakh conflict does not in any way hinder the railway communication, because the railway passes neither through Azerbaijan nor through the Armenian controlled security zones. It should be noted that the opening of the non-functioning segment and the resumption of vertical transport corridor does not contradict to the interests of Azerbaijan at all. In any case the road remains an important link of the chain. Thus, it is clear that official Baku artificially hinders the resumption of existing communications for one single aim: to achieve Armenia's exclusion and isolation from the North-South transport axis.

The logic of official Baku is understandable. But very strange is the behavior of Moscow who agrees to take part in the implementation of the doubtful project, which is fraught with the isolation of Armenia - the strategic partner of Russia. Instead, Moscow was supposed to influence Azerbaijan and make them open the Julfa-Ararat railway.
Not long ago, the Prime Minister of Armenia shared his worry concerning the issue with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia. The Russian minister promised to make efforts for the protection of the interests of Yerevan. But the approval of the agreement by the president of the state "Russian railways" company Genady Fadeev confirms the fact that Sergey Lavrov did not keep his word.

Thus, Russia neglected the interest of its ally and agreed to make huge investments in the implementation of the project with a very doubtful payback. Russian experts have assessed that Kazvin-Resht-Astara railway can become profitable in five years only in case of transporting 20 tons of cargo each year. This could be achieved only if this was the only railway connecting Russia and Iran. So, it turns out that the initiators of the project are not interested in the functioning of Kars-Gyumri railroad, which will be a harmful alternative to the new road. Does it really mean that it will be more favorable for Moscow - one of the initiators of the project, to keep the transport blockade of Armenia?

The strange behavior of Moscow makes the words of President Vladimir Putin completely senseless. He said that Armenia is one of the most reliable partners of Russia. Partners are not treated with in such a way. What if Yerevan treats Russia in the same way? After all this, the leadership of Armenia has a full moral right to finally agree to the construction of Iran - Ukraine gas pipeline, passing through Armenia. Own interests are higher than those of partners. If it so, there is no need for Armenia to worry about the several milliards of dollars that "Gasprom" and the Russian government will lose.

Artyom Yerkanyan