Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway construction issue
Thursday, January 27
Today is the final day of a three-day, tri-party meeting (Georgia-Azerbaijan-Turkey) held in Tbilisi concerning Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway construction issues. The sides involved realize the scale and importance of the project which will be connecting Asia with Europe. It carries huge political and economical importance and the significance. Meanwhile, Armenia, which has been left outside, is attentively watching the developments. On January 25, the Armenian transport and communication minister Manuk Vardanian stated that while neighboring countries consider new transit routes, Armenia is doing likewise. For Armenia there is only one direction for transit and that is North-South. How Armenia is going to implement its ambitions is very difficult to imagine. From the north, Armenia has as a good neighbour – Georgia, who's northern neighbour – Russia, which occupied Georgian territories and thus could be labeled as an enemy. So far, Georgia opened its northern border with Russia to receive cargo destined for Armenia. Georgia also passes through its territory, natural gas for Armenia from Russia. But there is a permanent question being asked as to what benefits Georgia is receiving from being good neighbour of Armenia. Will such an attitude eventually promote the process of de occupation and reintegration? It is hard to predict at this time.