Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Armenia In The Crossroad Of The Conflicts

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Armenia In The Crossroad Of The Conflicts

    ARMENIA IN THE CROSSROAD OF THE CONFLICTS
    Vasak Tarposhyan

    Hayots Ashkhar Daily
    04 Sep 2008
    Armenia

    As a result of the Russian-Georgian conflict the issue of the
    search for the new communication channels has become urgent for
    Armenia. Though after a short break the transit deliveries by Georgia
    has been restored, it can be destroyed any time. And by the way the
    conversation here is both about the deliveries made by the railway
    and the gas pipeline.

    At this stage the provision of gas delivery is number one issue for
    Armenia, especially because winter is not very far.

    It is quite understandable that any time Russia can stop gas
    supply to Georgia. Which means Armenia will also be deprived of gas
    supply. Georgia will hardly tolerate Russian gas supply to the third
    country by its territory, no matter how much income it will bring.

    On the other hand life shows that in such cases Georgia makes use of
    the gas intended for Armenia, something that Russia will naturally
    not tolerate.

    Thus Armenia must think of alternative ways to receive gas. In that
    respect, lots of work has already been implemented. Due to which today
    it will be easier for Armenia to overcome the existing energy problems.

    We have an alternative in the person of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline. Of
    course it is not completely ready. The problem is because of low
    carrying capacity of the gas pipeline functioning in the t erritory
    of Armenia, which is not able to push sufficient amount of blue fuel
    required for Armenia.

    Taking into consideration that circumstance the works aimed at the
    increase of the carrying capacity of Meghry-Ararat gas pipeline have
    started from last year, which is previewed to complete at he end of
    this year.

    In case of the launch of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline Armenia can receive
    sufficient amount of gas from Iran.

    If the problem of gas supply is much easier to solve, in case of
    alternative gas pipelines, the same can't be said about railway
    transportation. The situation is a bit different in this case. Despite
    Russian-Georgian conflict Armenia can continue to make use of
    Georgian railway but the existing contradictions will have influence
    on transportation of the loads. Moreover for different reasons the
    load transportation can stop from time to time.

    One thing is clear - that direction is hopeless for Armenia. Thus
    we should also think of an alternative railway exit. Iran - Armenia
    railways can serve as an alternative in this regard. But unlike the
    gas pipeline the processes here are mainly on the level of programs
    and it is not clear when they will be put into practice. The works are
    in process on the level of experts. Even if they manage to complete
    these works in a short period of time it will take around 2-3 years
    to build Iran-Armenia railway.

    Though the fun ding of this project is more than 1 billion dollars,
    it will not hinder its implementation. Moreover Armenia will most
    probably not shoulder financial load.

    As we know a Russian company has taken the long-term governance of
    Armenian railway and according to the agreement the governor commits
    himself to serious investment obligations, which are directly linked
    with the construction and launch of Iran-Armenia railway.

    So we can say that the problems linked with funding are settled. But
    there are lots of questions in terms of the efficiency of the railway's
    activity, which needs to be grounded.

    Therefore the construction of Iran-Armenia railway can become part of a
    complex program. It presumes also construction of an oil-reprocessing
    factory in Meghry. The program has been elaborated 2 years back. But
    as it was in case of the railway the works have not yet started.

    Anyway Armenia can't wait any more. We must make the search of the
    alternative communication ways more active.
Working...
X