"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 | Viva: Armenia's leading technology company introduces a new trademark The updated brand Viva reflects a qualitatively new level of digital services. Turkey restoring 500-year-old Surp Sarkis Armenian Church During the program, Sahak Maşalyan, the Patriarch of Türkiye's Armenians, inspected the historic church and offered prayers. Cumulative deposit on flexible terms: Byblos Bank Armenia's new offer Once the deposit is fixed, it can be topped up at any time, and interest will be accrued quarterly. BSEC Secretary General due in Armenia on July 1 On July 1, the Secretary General of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC) Lazar Comanescu will pay a working visit to Armenia. |