The basis for just another geopolitical myth are laid

PanARMENIAN.Net - In this case the "pro-Russian region" is Javakh and the main purpose is the extrusion of the Armenian population. In this project Georgia almost followed the Turkic world, playing a rather improper role in the isolation of the Christian neighbor, at the same time it should be mentioned that Tbilisi has no benefits from this railroad.

In the opinion of the analyst of Strategic Culture Foundation Andrei Areshev, over the last years the doubts about the economic advisability of the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railroad construction haven't disappeared yet, and they have been expressed not only in Russia or in Armenia, but also in Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey as immediate participants of the project. According to him, the expenses of the construction of the railroad will be repaid only in several decades. Assessing the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railroad project in June 2006, the Georgian State Minister on economic reforms Kakha Bendukidze announced that he doesn't see any guarantees for a feasible income. "The project of Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railroad construction doesn't have any economic bases, since there is already one similar railroad; Kars-Gyumri railroad," said the Turkish Co-chairs of the Armenian-Turkish business-council Khaan Soyak.

In the opinion of the political scientist Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan, Georgia didn't have the moral right to participate in it. "For realizing Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railroad construction Azerbaijan granted Georgia credit with the sum of $225 million, which may not be called otherwise than bribe," he thinks. There are different opinions existing among the Georgian experts regarding Georgia's benefit from the realization of Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railroad. The already functioning pipelines Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baky-Tbilisi-Erzrum brought only $50 million to Georgia, while Georgia was hoping for $300 million. According to the economist Gi Khukhashvili, Kars-Tbilisi-Baku is the least profitable to the very Georgia, it particular it may do great harm to the ports Batumi and Poti, which are used to transport the Azeri and Turkish goods now. However, Michael Saakashvili is proud of the asset of his country in the realization of this project. If this is how the "independence" is perceived in Georgia, we have no questions for the Georgian authorities, moreover when this project is supported neither by the USA nor the EU. According to the EU commissioner for foreign relations and issues of European policy of neighborhood Benita Ferrero-Valdner, the EU supports the already existing international transport communications and is against the establishment of new ones, such as Kars-Akhalkalak-Baku. "In the conclusion of the European Commission High Level Group it is said that the TRACECA (the Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia) is the main international way for the Caucasus, which connected all the countries, including Armenia. The Commission doesn't change its mind and continues assisting the regional cooperation within the frames of the European Neighborhood Policy by means of dialogue. The Commission has also started negotiations with the neighboring countries for the realization of the main international transport corridors, mentioned in the report of the High Level Group. In the Caucasus countries the negotiations are concentrated on normal functioning of the TRACECA. The financial aid from the EU is allocated by in the frames of the TRACECA and won't be spent on any other project connected with Kars-Akhalkalaki-Baku. The Commission disseminates similar information in the region and various financial institutions functioning in the region, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank," emphasizes the EU Commissioner.

"Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railroad is nothing but a geopolitical myth. Armenia has nothing to do with this project and even if 6 similar railroads ever function, it will never have any influence on us. Those $600 million, which will be spent on the construction, could be spent on more viable projects," believes the Armenian expert Sergey Minasyan.

Andrei Areshev is sure that no politicized, economically unprofitable transport projects will ever provide peace and stability in the Caucasus. "Here the alternative could be the initiative of Russia; the proposal of mutually beneficial schemes of new transport communication. In case of deblocking, with Russia's assistance, the railroad communication between Armenia and Turkey is a properly functioning route, connecting Russia, Turkey and Iran, which would stimulate trade and economic development of all countries of the region in the frames of transport corridor "North-South", emphasizes the analyst.