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Problem of re-opening of the Railroad Connecting Armenia and Turkey

Doc. 10333
15 October 2004

Written question No 458 to the Committee of Ministers
presented by Mr Kocharyan

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            One of the important ways of transportation of goods, which connects South Caucasus with Turkey, is the railroad from Gyumri (Armenia) to Kars (Turkey).

            After Armenia’s independence, one of the actions taken by Turkish authorities towards Armenia’s transport blockade is the closure of the Gyumri-Kars part of the railroad.

            This action contradicts Council of Europe’s principles, is economically harmful not only for Armenia and Turkey, but also for other countries of the region, as well it does not contribute to the improvement of relations between Armenia and Turkey.

            Given these facts, Mr Kocharyan asks the Committee of Ministers:

            Does the Committee of Ministers accept the inadmissibility of the blockade set up by the Council of Europe member state to another member state and could the Committee of Ministers address this matter to the Turkish authorities in order to re-open the Gyumri-Kars part of the railroad connecting Armenia with Turkey?

Signed ^[1]
KOCHARYAN, Shavarsh, Armenia, LDR

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[1]

SOC EPP EDG LDR UEL NR

Socialist Group Group of the European People’s Party European Democratic Group Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group Group of the Unified European Left Not registered in a group