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WHO WILL DEBLOCK ARMENIA SOONER?
Naira Hayrumyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/politics26861.html
Published: 13:43:36 - 16/07/2012
A big project is being worked out in the region though there is more
than one project, and this time Armenia is a key factor.
At the time of the visit of the foreign minister of Georgia Grigol
Vashadze to Armenia he held an interview on the reconstruction of
the railway connecting Armenia to Russia through Georgia and Abkhazia.
The Georgian minister made it clear that his country may agree with
this only if Russia recognizes Abkhazia as a disputable area. In an
interview with the Echo of Moscow, he noted that Armenia does not need
the railway, Russia needs it to supply its military base situated in
Gyumri. Georgia does not need it at all.
Apparently, Russia has decided to promote the project of the regional
railway. So, in order to convince Vashadze Moscow asked Yerevan to
invite him to Armenia. Armenia has already convinced Georgia to open
Upper Lars to have land communication with Russia.
Nothing is known about the results of the talks in Yerevan but this
means that Armenia failed to convince Georgia or didn't want.
It is noteworthy that on the same days the information came that
if railway communication between Armenia and Turkey is restored,
the Armenians may use Trabzon port for shipments. The project of
reconstruction of Kars-Gyumri railway is lobbied by the United States.
Actually, the U.S. and Russia are competing to decide who will end
the railway blockade of Armenia. It is clear that it is not done
for Armenia but to control shipments in the region. The fight for
the railway will be tough and Armenia had better calculate all the
advantages and disadvantages.
Iran's activeness is also interesting. The minister of ecology of
Iran is planning a visit to Armenia to meet the expert group to study
the situation in Syunik region. The Armenian-Iranian railway will run
across this region if it is built. Perhaps, the Iranian specialists
did not believe the Armenian estimates and considered them exaggerated,
so they decided to study everything on the spot.
Anyway, it is evident that by autumn Armenia will have to choose
the method of deblocking. Armenia is already under pressure, also
because of the gas price but Yerevan most probably understands that
this fight is not for the Armenians but the geopolitical giants need
Armenia to be on their side of the barricade. Yerevan needs to use
this valuable potential not only to break through the blockade but
to restore its sovereignty reducing its dependence on the others.
Naira Hayrumyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/politics26861.html
Published: 13:43:36 - 16/07/2012
A big project is being worked out in the region though there is more
than one project, and this time Armenia is a key factor.
At the time of the visit of the foreign minister of Georgia Grigol
Vashadze to Armenia he held an interview on the reconstruction of
the railway connecting Armenia to Russia through Georgia and Abkhazia.
The Georgian minister made it clear that his country may agree with
this only if Russia recognizes Abkhazia as a disputable area. In an
interview with the Echo of Moscow, he noted that Armenia does not need
the railway, Russia needs it to supply its military base situated in
Gyumri. Georgia does not need it at all.
Apparently, Russia has decided to promote the project of the regional
railway. So, in order to convince Vashadze Moscow asked Yerevan to
invite him to Armenia. Armenia has already convinced Georgia to open
Upper Lars to have land communication with Russia.
Nothing is known about the results of the talks in Yerevan but this
means that Armenia failed to convince Georgia or didn't want.
It is noteworthy that on the same days the information came that
if railway communication between Armenia and Turkey is restored,
the Armenians may use Trabzon port for shipments. The project of
reconstruction of Kars-Gyumri railway is lobbied by the United States.
Actually, the U.S. and Russia are competing to decide who will end
the railway blockade of Armenia. It is clear that it is not done
for Armenia but to control shipments in the region. The fight for
the railway will be tough and Armenia had better calculate all the
advantages and disadvantages.
Iran's activeness is also interesting. The minister of ecology of
Iran is planning a visit to Armenia to meet the expert group to study
the situation in Syunik region. The Armenian-Iranian railway will run
across this region if it is built. Perhaps, the Iranian specialists
did not believe the Armenian estimates and considered them exaggerated,
so they decided to study everything on the spot.
Anyway, it is evident that by autumn Armenia will have to choose
the method of deblocking. Armenia is already under pressure, also
because of the gas price but Yerevan most probably understands that
this fight is not for the Armenians but the geopolitical giants need
Armenia to be on their side of the barricade. Yerevan needs to use
this valuable potential not only to break through the blockade but
to restore its sovereignty reducing its dependence on the others.