Armenian President's spokesman: "We will hamper construction of Kars-Baku"

According to him, official Yerevan categorically opposes construction of the railway and it will use negotiations at different levels as a lever of influence.

"The fact that the United States refused to finance the construction is a result of the official Yerevan's steps," Viktor Sogomonyan noted adding that the Armenian side at various meetings raises the issue of the railway, which Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan want to construct bypassing Armenia.

Earlier, on January 24, US Charge d'Affairs in Armenia Anthony Godfrey announced that the USA found important and promoted regional cooperation processes in South Caucasus, as they are basic guarantee of stability in the region. He reminded that the USA refused to finance the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku project, saying at that if "the participant countries intend to implement the project without expecting financial help from the USA, we cannot prohibit it."

The Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku project envisages construction of the 98 km long Kars-Akhalkalaki railway, 68 of which come across the Turkish territory, 30 km via the Georgian territory, and reconstruction of the Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi section. Construction works in Turkey are estimated $422 mln, with the infrastructure - $600 mln. Azerbaijan expressed readiness to finance its share of the project worth $200 mln and will give $200 mln to Georgia as credit with annual rate of 1%. The loan will be repaid in 25 years. Regnum