Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

President Sargsyan Visits Syunik Marz

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • President Sargsyan Visits Syunik Marz

    PRESIDENT SARGSYAN VISITS SYUNIK MARZ

    armradio.am
    01.04.2009 11:16

    President Serzh Sargsyan conducted a working visit to Syunik marz.

    First, the President of Armenia visited the copper and molybdenum
    producing factory in Kajaran. Serzh Sargsyan familiarized with the
    work of the factory and had a brief meeting with the workers in the
    production units, President's Press Office reported.

    At the Erablur pantheon in Kapan, the President of Armenia laid wreaths
    at the Memorial for those who perished in World War II and at the cross
    stone in the memory of those missing in action since the Artshakh war.

    Afterwards, President Sargsyan conducted a working meeting at the
    administrative center of the marz. At the meeting discussed were issues
    related to the activities of the mining industry in the region under
    the ongoing economic and financial crisis, future actions to be taken
    in that area, the current social and economic situation in Syunik,
    and some related priority issues.

    In his opening remarks the President of Armenia said, "I started my
    visit from the Kajaran copper and molybdenum producing factory and
    we saw first hand that the factory is not only fully operational but
    is also implementing the development projects. I am well familiar
    with the situation at the Agarak and Kapan factories. My assessment
    is clear-cut: the current state of the Agarak and Kapan factories
    results from tenacious and efficient work o f their owners and the
    management of the factories. I have no doubt that some tough decisions
    have been made.

    My conclusion is also clear-cut: these three major enterprises can and
    must operate. They must operate even if the profit approaches zero,
    with the understanding that they are not only solving important social
    problem but are working toward the future returns. I am confident
    that had the Kajaran factory not functioned in difficult conditions
    in late 1990s - early 2000s, it would not have been profitable in
    the last five or six years.

    Enterprises should work, and with this regard if the Government
    of Armenia is expected to do more we are ready to discuss these
    issues. About the crisis in general: in recent months we have been
    able to solve a number of problems and from now on we will not stumble
    over any difficulty.

    The global crisis dramatically reduced the prices of copper and
    molybdenum: in just a couple of months they fell 3-3.5 times. Not only
    these enterprises have found themselves in a difficult situation,
    since everybody knows that a big chunk of our exports is directly
    related to the work of these factories, but also problems have arisen
    in the areas of revenues and tax collection.

    The Government has been working constantly with the leading
    enterprises of the industry to create opportunities to overcome the
    difficulties and in some cases it is implementing the assistance prog
    rams with diversified approaches to the issue. We are confident that
    the Government's assistance, comebacks which are in the area of the
    Government's competence, must be swift. In private sector-government
    cooperation we must be able to solve state as well as regional
    problems.

    Obviously, it was not possible to provide every regional or state
    enterprise with similar solutions which would allow to work with no
    interruptions in these extremely unfavorable conditions. However, I
    believe that we have reached a stage when we should think about the
    functioning of not only these three particular factories but about
    the continuous functioning of many of our enterprises.

    Besides, the recent depreciation of the national currency and positive
    tendencies with regard to the international prices for metals create
    somewhat favorable conditions. We should take advantage of these
    cooperatively good and somewhat favorable conditions."

    The President of Armenia tasked the relevant regional structures
    with one precise assignment and noted "there will no reductions in
    wages, pensions, or social benefits, and there will be no problems
    with delivering them to the people on time. No matter what, the
    wages of the teachers, policemen, and workers must be paid in time,
    and any delay will be considered by us as bad work. The state budget
    allocates the money and it must be delivered in time. Currently it
    is the most important task.E2

    At the meeting the Vice Prime Minister, Minister for Territorial
    Administration Armen Gevorkian and the Head of Syunik regional
    administration Surik Khatchatian presented the social and economic
    situation in the region and the most inclusive issues.
Working...
X