President Dmitry Medvedev has signed the Law «About ratification of the Memorandum of mutual understanding in the field of the coordinated development of a ring highway round Black sea». The line more than 7 thousand in km should unite in the extent Black Sea countries and make active their economic and tourist communications.

The super-building budget isn’t defined yet. But experts are assured that the project will be realized, and the countries-participants can overcome possible objections of Georgia.

As the press-service of the Kremlin has informed, the law ratifies the Memorandum which has been signed by the governments of member states of the Organization of the Black Sea economic cooperation (OBEC) on April, 19th, 2007 in Belgrad.

The governments of member states OBEC recognize existence of considerable difficulties in realization of the international automobile transportations and necessity of the coordinated efforts on reconstruction and construction of roads in region. According to the Memorandum creation ring highways about 7140 km is planned in the extent. The line will pass through Istanbul, Samsun, Trabzon (Turkey), Batumi, Poti (Georgia), Novorossisk, Rostov-on-Don, Taganrog (Russia), Mariupol, Melitopol, Odessa (Ukraine), Kishinev (Moldova), Bucharest (Romania), Khaskovo (Bulgaria), Komotini, Aleksandrupolis (Greece), Edirne, (Turkey). According to participants, project realization will allow to create a modern road infrastructure of the Black Sea region and to make active trade and economic and tourist communications. It will promote economic-social development not only the Black Sea region, but also all European continent.

Despite good intentions, realities are that on a way of the Black Sea ring there will be many obstacles. First, to finance building, operation and highway reconstruction it is planned at the expense of state means and means of private business. Means of the European investment bank, the European Reconstruction and Development Bank, the World bank and other banks and funds, and also means from European Union funds can be involved also. However concrete obligations, as well as estimates of cost of the project, don’t exist yet. In particular, Russia hasn’t taken up obligations under the additional expenses covered at the expense of the budget. Moreover, there is a number of political obstacles, main of which — a position of Georgia.

As the clubman of independent experts of Georgia George Huhashvili has explained in conversation with «NN», it is very desirable, that such project has taken place. «But thus it is impossible to forget that today on a way of its realization there is a number of political obstacles and unresolved problems, — he noticed. — in the present state of affairs all parties should think first of all of removal of these obstacles. I hope that Georgia and Russia will cooperate, but while political preconditions for such cooperation aren’t present».

Meanwhile, as marks a part of experts, exists also historical aspect — for example, the Karsky contract from October, 13th, 1921. According to which external guarantors of the same Adzharia on which territory — Batumi — also there will take place a line, Russia and Turkey, and so act, the question on its layer pad can be solved on its basis.

However, Huhashvili is adjusted categorically. «As to the Karsky contract in the XXI-st century to speak about it it is possible only from the historic-political point of view, — he underlines. — references to him can resemble more likely threat, than on desire to cooperate. We have good relations with Turkey today, and I hope that business won’t reach consideration of points of the Karsky contract — too many countries will appear got mixed up…»

Nevertheless in that, as to direct questions of necessity of building, analytics almost unanimously it support.

As the chief engineer marks companies IK «2К» Andrey Smirnov, as a whole Georgia plays rather important role in the project of a ring highway round Black sea.« The ring, undoubtedly, will be key in the project, however its value is increased repeatedly by radial branches, — it explains. — one of such branches is just provided in the Georgian territory.It is a question of a route — Ahalsiche (Georgia) — Gjumri — Yerevan- Rizdan (Armenia) — Tbilisi (Georgia). This road will allow to connect Armenia with Azerbaijan and Turkey through Georgia. At present it is the best alternative variant of a solution of a problem of disconnexion of Armenia. Thus interest in a transport artery shows not only Yerevan, but also Istanbul, Baku, and also Moscow supporting Armenia ». Considering total of the interested countries, powerful pressure will be put upon Tbilisi, therefore Russia and Georgia for the high-grade project of a highway nevertheless should search for the compromise, Smirnov considers.

In turn, the general director of company «Financial examination» Agvan Mikaeljan considers that from the economic point of view of Georgia it is no point to resist. «It now develops in the most active image the coastal infrastructure, restores services, hotels, — the analyst lists. — it is real, if Russians there don’t rush (for now not so clearly as they there can rush), on one Armenians and Azerbaijanians hardly will earn» much. Thus Georgia now can compete to all Black Sea states on a parity the price-quality of services and can become the worthy competitor of the same Turkey, Mikaelyan is assured.

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