Sunday, 22 August 2010
- Mr. Prime Minister, a series of agreements have been signed in the framework of RF President Dimitry Medvedev’s visit to the Republic of Armenia, including on construction of a new NPP in Armenia. What does this agreement imply: what kind of power plant shall we have, of what capacity and, finally, what is the outlook of our energy security as seen from the perspective of Armenia’s strategic interest?
- Firstly, I wish to remind you RA President’s statement concerning the construction of a new 1000 MWT nuclear power plant. The agreement which has been signed with the Russian Federation provides that our Russian partners will participate in the construction by making a direct investment. Estimates show that this sizeable project will cost some 5 billion US dollars. The agreement stipulates that our Russian partners, too, will join this investment program. We shall cooperate with them in a new format under this project the details of which will made public in due course. The new NPP is sure to lead to a qualitative improvement in our energy system. It will be a modern plant to considerably increase domestic output of electricity which means better development prospects for industry.
- Mr. Prime Minister, what kind of projects are high on your agenda as co-chair of the Armenian-Russian intergovernmental commission?
- I would like you to take note two key factors which characterize the recent activities of the commission. Firstly, we are trying to expand the scope of cooperation. Our economies need to be diversified which implies agenda diversification to include new items in search of modernization. We are currently developing innovative projects to be implemented jointly with the Russian partners. The second factor is that we attach great importance to direct contacts between the regions. The previous sitting of the intergovernmental commission was held in Yaroslavl and the next one will take place in Yekaterinburg. Indeed, this promotes direct linkages and arrangements between administrative units and concretizes the emerging cooperation.
- Mr. Prime Minister, “Armenian Railway” was handed over to “South Caucasian Railway” for trust management. Our citizens seem to have concerns about the quality of services. I would appreciate your giving a brief description of the Armenian-Russian cooperation in the sphere of railway communications especially as Mr. Medvedev has emphasized in a recent statement that all the projected investments had to be brought to completion.
- Yes, during the expanded meeting, RF Minister of Transport Igor Levitin stressed that the Russian side was going to complete the investment program in 2010 as the mutually agreed concession arrangement had not been fulfilled due to some slowdown observed over the past couple of years. The Russian side had undertaken to complete the investment program in 2010, including first of all the refurbishment of the existing rolling stock. Likewise important is the improvement of railroads due to which passenger traffic will gain in speed. And finally, a new model of management has to be introduced to enhance management efficiency and address the problems associated with ticket sales and rolling stock availability.
- On August 23, 20 years will have been passed since the adoption of Armenia’s Declaration of Independence in 1990. You were in Parliament at that time. May I have your impressions 20 years later?
- These 20 years flew by in a trice. They were full of events and, perhaps, it will take some time before we can apprehend the historical importance of both the Declaration and numerous other political decisions adopted by the Supreme Soviet. One thing is clear: the foundations of an emerging nationhood were being laid and I think that the Declaration provided the basis on which the entire legislative framework was built up subsequently. The Declaration was instrumental in defining the ways and strategy of Armenia’s development.
- Would you like to go back to those times?
- This question is difficult to answer, because looking back at past events you have to think over the past mistakes, those shortcomings and tragic events that otherwise could have been avoided and, indeed, this makes one go deep into philosophical meditations.
