"VIRK" PARTY ATTRIBUTES LAYING BAKU-TBILISI-CEYHAN OIL PIPELINE THROUGH BORJOMI GORGE TO NEAR DISLOCATION OF RUSSIAN MILITARY BASEDecember 9, 2002 - 22:47 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - When determining the route of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline the project directors took into account the dislocation of the Russian military base in the territory of the Akhalkalaki region of Georgia. As reported by "Mediamax" agency, leader of "Virk" party, functioning in Samtskhe-Javakhetia Georgian region populated by Armenians, Davit Rstakian stated it adding that due to that reason a decision was made to lay the oil pipeline Georgian segment through Borjomi gorge. In his words, the protest lodged by the residents on laying the pipeline through their territory is conditioned by general uncertainty of the situation, as the region population is in an information vacuum. "No one has presented the ecological consequences of the oil pipeline construction to the people and what compensation is due to them for that," - Rstakian stressed. He noted that the situation in Samtskhe-Javakhetia was being purposefully exacerbated by certain forces not interested in securing stability in the region and the statements about separatist moods of Armenians living there were fictitious. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. 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". Partner news | Moody's upgrades IDBank's rating Moody's has upgraded ID Bank CJSC's (IDBank) long-term local and foreign currency bank deposit ratings to Ba3 from B1. U.S. “very clear” with Azerbaijan: “It’s time to make peace with Armenia” James O'Brien has said that the United States is “very clear” with Azerbaijani that it is a time to make peace with Armenia. Destruction of Armenian heritage raised at PACE Member of the Armenian delegation to PACE, MP from the “I Have the Honor” bloc Hayk Mamijanyan delivered remarks at a PACE session. PACE adopts resolution on Armenia's commitment to reforms PACE welcomed the electoral reforms implemented by Armenia in accordance with the recommendations of the Venice Commission. |