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Why Does Armenia Need The Georgian Gibraltar?


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Why Does Armenia Need The Georgian Gibraltar?

By Alexander Avanesov

Arminfo – 10/7/2012


In October 2012 Tbilisi will host an international conference of scientists and donors to discuss the project of construction of a large Black Sea port - Lazika. The idea of the construction of the new city belongs to Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. The city is expected to become the second largest city of the country after Tbilisi by both its size and significance. The population of the city will be 500 thsd people. The allotment of land for the future construction will start in two weeks. The city will be connected with Poti, another large port of Georgia, with a motor road. The construction of the new port is conditioned by the fact that Poti does not manage to cope with the growth of cargo transportation,

and the presence of the 250m depression in the place of Lazika will allow the large-capacity vessels to berth here.


Having no outlet to the sea, Armenia should first and foremost be interested in participation in this project. The boring phrase "pogh chka" ("there is no money") may force the country out of the large regional projects again. Deputy Minister of Justice of Georgia, Georgy Vashadze, hinted at this during a meeting with the journalists from the South Caucasus countries and Russia. The meeting was organized by the Go Group Media organizations. According to him, there are countries, for which Georgia is a transit corridor for entry to the foreign markets, and the participation in the project of construction of Lazika port may bring big dividends to these countries. The deputy minister stressed that Lazika will receive big powers for self-governance; it will have its own laws and even its own Criminal Code. The relevant amendments to the Basic Law of the country have already been adopted by the Georgian Parliament. The first moves-in are expected to appear in the new city in 2 or 3 years.
However, the matter only concerns the idea. There are neither design specifications and estimates nor environmental examination yet. It is only known that in the course of time Lazika will acquire the tourism center Anaklia (translated from Mingrelian as "the weeping of Ann"), which is currently under construction. It was here that Turks used to snatch people to enslave them. There are already three hotels, a football field, a tennis court, an amphitheatre, an aqua-park and several pools in Anaklia. 60 mln GEL (more than 30 mln USD) from the state budget has been spent on the construction of infrastructural facilities, including a highway and a 5 km sea front, which will be lengthened by 2 km in the near future. Anaklia is connected with Golmokhuri village by a 555 m bridge over the river Inguri.
However, it is not so simple as it seems to be. The lack of precise information and transparency in the project implementation causes numerous questions. First of all, the environmentalists are concerned over a possible environmental disaster that may be caused by the construction of Lazika. The thing is that this district is situated on dunes and bogs, which hinder the sea's advance deep into the country's territory. Nino Chkhobadze, ex-minister of natural resources and nature protection of Georgia, Co-Chairperson of the green movement "Friends of the Earth", thinks that the bog drainage will result in the sea's advance to Zugdidi and even Kutaisi. 40 species of birds inhabiting this district will disappear. Moreover, the lands of the Kolkhida national park, which is included in the Ramsar Convention, will be allocated for construction. According to Chkhobadze, half of the Georgian population does not believe in possible implementation of this project and considers it to be the political put-up job of President Saakashvili.
However, there are also people who think that in case Saakashvili remains at power after the presidential election of 2013, the project will be implemented by all means. According to officially unconfirmed data, first of all the refugees from Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as Meskhetin Turks will settle the city. Various officials of Georgia have also pointed out the political component of the project.
They think that the Abkhaz people living across the Inguri bridge will see Georgia's achievements with their own eyes and, probably, they will want to return to the lap of official Tbilisi.
Anyway, most politicians and political experts are sure that Saakashvili will remain at power after the presidential election of 2013. This means that the project will be implemented. As for Armenia, it should try not to miss the train, which is gathering pace.
Otherwise, we may be late again.





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