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COMMUNICATION ROUTES ARE INSCRUTABLE
by Ivan Sukhov
DEFENSE and SECURITY
June 9, 2008 Monday
Russia
Where will the railway to Abkhazia lead Russia?
ARE THE RAILWAY TROOPS BUILDING A TRANSPORT CORRIDOR IN ABKHAZIA?;
Dmitry Medvedev has to persuade the Georgian party that the
restored railway to Ochamchira is necessary not to bring tanks and
self-propelled artillery mounts to Abkhazia.
Dmitry Medvedev has to persuade the Georgian party that the
restored railway to Ochamchira is necessary not to bring tanks and
self-propelled artillery mounts to Abkhazia.
The Russian leader may draw a quite optimistic prospect for restoration
of the railway communication for his Georgian colleague. First,
this would be quite in accordance with the gradual lifting of
limitations from goods and transportation exchange between Russia
and Georgia. Second, this would unblock Western Georgia for which it
would be much easier and cheaper to export its agricultural products
even if Russia leaves part of the limitations of Georgian import
in effect yet. Third, Russia would be able to help Armenia that
it is still considering its main (and actually the only one) South
Caucasian ally but which bears huge transportation costs because its
only railway leading to Georgia ends in a dead end in Zugdidi.
Georgia is working on the project of Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki-Kars
road very actively. This road will broaden the transport corridor
from the Caspian region to the West and will finally turn this
direction into a priority for the South Caucasus at the expense of
the problematic communication with Russia and will increase transport
isolation of Armenia if it is built bypassing its territory as it
is planned. Although the US Department of State insists that Armenia
should be "connected" to this road, it is much easier to announce this
goal than to achieve it in reality: to take part in the project Yerevan
will have to get reconciled or at least to agree to negotiate with
Ankara and Baku seriously. So far, this does not look very realistic.
In February of 2008, Russian Railways received concession for
management of the Armenian railway. The restoration of railway
communication through Abkhazia could logically crown this deal and
change the current "island" condition of Armenian railways. Together
with this railway Russia would restore its presence in the South
Caucasus to a large extent. So far, this presence has a trend of
decreasing. Ground communication with Armenia (the only officially
existing base of the Russian forces remains there) would be restored
too. The transport corridor North-South would start working and would
be able to contribute to a more differentiated regional organization
of economic space to the south of the Big Caucasian Ridge and to
increase the degree of Russia's participation in economic life of
the neighboring countries.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
by Ivan Sukhov
DEFENSE and SECURITY
June 9, 2008 Monday
Russia
Where will the railway to Abkhazia lead Russia?
ARE THE RAILWAY TROOPS BUILDING A TRANSPORT CORRIDOR IN ABKHAZIA?;
Dmitry Medvedev has to persuade the Georgian party that the
restored railway to Ochamchira is necessary not to bring tanks and
self-propelled artillery mounts to Abkhazia.
Dmitry Medvedev has to persuade the Georgian party that the
restored railway to Ochamchira is necessary not to bring tanks and
self-propelled artillery mounts to Abkhazia.
The Russian leader may draw a quite optimistic prospect for restoration
of the railway communication for his Georgian colleague. First,
this would be quite in accordance with the gradual lifting of
limitations from goods and transportation exchange between Russia
and Georgia. Second, this would unblock Western Georgia for which it
would be much easier and cheaper to export its agricultural products
even if Russia leaves part of the limitations of Georgian import
in effect yet. Third, Russia would be able to help Armenia that
it is still considering its main (and actually the only one) South
Caucasian ally but which bears huge transportation costs because its
only railway leading to Georgia ends in a dead end in Zugdidi.
Georgia is working on the project of Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki-Kars
road very actively. This road will broaden the transport corridor
from the Caspian region to the West and will finally turn this
direction into a priority for the South Caucasus at the expense of
the problematic communication with Russia and will increase transport
isolation of Armenia if it is built bypassing its territory as it
is planned. Although the US Department of State insists that Armenia
should be "connected" to this road, it is much easier to announce this
goal than to achieve it in reality: to take part in the project Yerevan
will have to get reconciled or at least to agree to negotiate with
Ankara and Baku seriously. So far, this does not look very realistic.
In February of 2008, Russian Railways received concession for
management of the Armenian railway. The restoration of railway
communication through Abkhazia could logically crown this deal and
change the current "island" condition of Armenian railways. Together
with this railway Russia would restore its presence in the South
Caucasus to a large extent. So far, this presence has a trend of
decreasing. Ground communication with Armenia (the only officially
existing base of the Russian forces remains there) would be restored
too. The transport corridor North-South would start working and would
be able to contribute to a more differentiated regional organization
of economic space to the south of the Big Caucasian Ridge and to
increase the degree of Russia's participation in economic life of
the neighboring countries.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress