ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER CAMPAIGNS IN SOUTH ARMENIA, PROMISES VAST REFORMS

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
30 Apr 07

[Presenter] Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan spent the weekend in Syunik
[Region]. As he has put it, he takes the people’s trust with him
from each meeting, and leaves those gathered with hope and belief
that the problems will be solved.

[Correspondent over video showing Sargsyan campaigning in Agarak]
Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan, who is on a working visit in Syunik,
made his first stop at the border town of Agarak. The town is among
the few in the republic where the employment problem has been almost
solved. If a new railway is built, Syunik Region, and Agarak in
particular, will benefit greatly. The prime minister said that the
Yerevan-Agarak air link is planned to be restored too.

[PM Serzh Sargsyan, shown speaking to people] Our government’s
policy is to build roads, provide natural gas, water, build culture
facilities, health facilities, and establish good conditions for
investors to create jobs which seems to become reality here.

[Correspondent] Syunik is a border region, and the demographic issue
is hotter here. The government will solve your problems, and families,
especially the young ones, should have many babies, the prime minister
said. Sargsyan spoke about the rumours, according to which Meghri
has become a subject in the talks with Azerbaijan.

[Sargsyan] No territory can be a subject of bargain. No territory
can be used for other purposes or alienated from our country.

[Correspondent] During his meetings with the residents of Kajaran,
Kapan, Goris and Sisian, Sargsyan said that the economic successes of
the past seven years enable the government to initiate bigger projects.

[Sargsyan] There are good grounds to implement reforms of second
generation; reforms that will result not only in quantity but also
in quality growth.

[Correspondent] Despite the heavy rain, the residents of Jermuk stayed
until the end of the meeting with the country’s prime minister. Vayots
Dzor Region has a great potential for tourism sector, and both the
president and the cabinet attach importance to it. However, citizens
too should take care of the territory and help the government,
said Sargsyan.

[Sargsyan] I am calling on all of you to take care of our historical
and cultural monuments.

[Correspondent] The prime minister spoke about the future programmes
to assist rural areas when speaking in the village of Maliska and in
Yeghegnadzor. The farmers will receive money from the government for
each hectare of land they cultivate. It will be more effective than
the subsidies that are given now. Farmers will be protected from the
setbacks of the nature by insurance.

[Sargsyan] We will assist in development of insurance companies for
agricultural purposes. I am sure that in these conditions, agricultural
product of industrial significance will appear, which will result in
the establishment of processing enterprises.

[Correspondent] There are many problems, but there are projects in
place to resolve them. However, people’s trust and enthusiasm are
needed to implement them. Sargsyan was urging people to actively
participate in the 12 May election and vote for the political force
that will develop the country.