Thursday, 24 June 2010
RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan’s statement at the Government session held in Gegharkunik marz center Gavar town
The first section of marz problem-related agenda is being completed, and I wish to brief you now on the findings of our latest public opinion poll. You may be aware that similar surveys are conducted every time we visit a marz as we are eager to learn of the population’s concerns and their vision of the problems faced in the region.
It is not a secret that Gegharkunik marz has lower welfare indicators as compared to other marzes of our Republic, with poverty standing high on the agenda of administration. Our survey has shown that unemployment is a primary concern to households and individual communities. A second challenge is the status of roads, especially of those of local importance. People believe it to be a major impediment to social and economic development in the region. 28% of households in the marz have migrant workers among their family members which places it far apart from other regions of Armenia. Noteworthy is that people in Gegharkunik marz are concerned about the status of Lake Sevan, and it the fourth most important problem traced out by the poll.
It seems to be crucial that almost 80% of the population appreciates the steps taken by the government to deal with the threats facing the lake, including the measures countering illegal fishing which, frankly speaking, surprised me very much as local population was supposed to be more tolerant on the matter, fishery and fishing being the key to tackling welfare issues in the region.
Gegharkunik is also peculiar in that unlike other marzes where the government is looked upon as the only factor responsible for the current state of affairs, 80% of Gegharkunik marz population think themselves to be responsible for the building of a better in addition to the central government which tops the scale of responsibilities. While elsewhere ministries and other agencies were at the second place, here the family is deemed to be the second in this respect. This very factor is behind their optimism about the future. Your optimism proved far greater than that of Ararat marz inhabitants who enjoy sufficiently high living standards.
Healthcare and culture are believed to be the two most serious problems facing the marz. Unlike the other regions, people over here are keen on cultural and academic development, first of all. In the meantime, we found out that the estimate of other spheres is fairly the same as in other marzes.
I just tried to outline the main distinctive features of your marz which appears to be less politicized than the other regions of Armenia.
