Kirill Popov. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
The mass media began to discuss the project of Khazar Island and its most ambitious part – Azerbaijan Tower. The head of the concern, Avesta, which implements the project declared a preliminary cost of Azerbaijan Tower, which will be the tallest building in the world – 1050 m.
The construction will probably cost $2 billion. This number was first announced in early March. The whole project will cost about $100 billion.
This news reminded another project of building a city from the ground level, not so colossal, but very ambitious for its country. It is construction of the port city of Lazika in Georgia. Mikhail Saakashvili announced his plans on construction of Lazika last year. However, Bidzina Ivanishvili, the current prime minister of the country, stated that the project will be closed down. The future of the city is vague.
The sad fate of Lazika which was much smaller that the city of skyscrapers on artificial islands in the Caspian Sea makes us think – is the whole Khazar Island, including Azerbaijan Tower, an information ghost which will disappear as fog someday? One could state a successful ending of the project only after appearance of residents in the city. However, today construction of Khazar Island looks more forcible than Lazika.
The project of the new port city in Georgia was initiated by President Saakashvili. He and his team were the main sources of information about the city. Such a close connection with one person made Lazika vulnerable is case of overthrowing of Saakashvili’s power. This exactly happened in October. Mikhail Saakashvili tried to attract electorate by such a grand project, but it didn’t work.
There are two peculiarities of the project, according to information spread by the media. First of all, the Lazika project required participation of the state financial resources: it should be allocated to infrastructure, while working on construction of the city itself had to be sponsored by private investors. Therefore, the state had to make first impulse to appearance of the city not only in an ideological sense, but also in a material sense. Secondly, when the mass media discussed Lazika, a preliminary square of the city, a depth of the port, volumes of state investments were stated, but no more. As if no certain plans on construction existed. It means Saakashvili’s project existed only in the part which was connected with the state, while business was not interested in investments.
Khazar Island is an absolutely different story. First of all, information on the project is spread by the concern which deals with project. None of state structures or leading political activists of Azerbaijan commented on the project. Participation of the state capital in construction of Khazar Island was not discussed too – all necessary resources are planned to be attracted from foreign investments and selling constructed spaces. It seems the project of Khazar Island is an initiative of business. Moreover, information on the project includes a lot of details, which is a good sign.
Nevertheless, there are reasons for pessimism. Firstly, the project is too ambitious, especially Azerbaijan Tower. Of course Avesta includes companies which exclusively deal with construction of skyscrapers. But by this time they have never built anything high than 16 floors. Secondly, the media covering of the project is not wide-scaled. It means the project is prepared for a sudden closing down. Thirdly, such a grand idea couldn’t be implemented without agreement with the government. However, real plans of the authorities are dim. So, time will tell. At the moment we can wish Azerbaijan gaining a new beautiful city.
