European Union is changing its policy about Baku-Tblisi-Kars project.
It’s known from the beginning of the project that EU has kept distance with Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway.
It was the main reason of delays at the beginning of project where fund from European banks was not available. At that time, “the European Commission position was to support development of existing trans-national transport axes and not to create new parallel lines like the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku link, which would furthermore by-pass Armenia” as European Commissioner for External Affairs and the European Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner declared.
Now things seem to change.
As Delegation of European Union to Azerbaijan stated, EU welcomes this new rail corridor. The statement says it’s the heart of EU’s Eastern Partnership and its Central Asia strategy. They also added that the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project will provide fast and reliable land connection between Europe and Asia along the ancient Silk Route.
The policy of EU may determine which rail projects to support in Turkey and Caucasus. Currently Samsun-Kalın and Halkalı-Kapıkule railway projects are funded by EU. This policy may also mean support for new transportation projects on this route.
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