Public Television, Armenia
Oct 26 2007

Armenian leader says he will continue to serve his homeland

LENGTH: 731 words

Excerpt from report by Armenian Public TV on 26 October

[Presenter] One of the biggest budget-funded projects in our country
is already a reality. A new highway between Meghri and Kapan was
opened today with the Armenia president in attendance. New big
projects have started being implemented in the south of Armenia.

[Correspondent] Two and a half years and about 15bn drams – this is
the cost of the project. As a result, the highest point of the
Meghri-Kapan highway has been reduced by about 370 metres and roads
have become more reliable in winter, which will save drivers’
nerves. The new road connecting Meghri and Kapan has become a
reality. It is one of the biggest projects throughout the period of
our independence and was funded from the state budget.

[Video shows the opening ceremony]

[Armenian Transport and Communications Minister Andranik Manukyan] The
idea of building the highway belongs to the Armenian president. He
instructed us to study this complex landscape, carry out designing
work and finally construct this highway which is of high strategic
significance.

[Correspondent] The highest point of the old road is 2,535
metres. Complicated work was implemented to reduce it in the new
highway.

[Correspondent] The president today clearly mentioned the projects
which were recently discussed in the press – those which promise new
jobs and investments in the south of Armenia.

[Armenian President Robert Kocharyan] We have constructed a gas
pipeline, its extension is under construction now. We plan to
construct an oil pipeline, the construction of the third power line
will start next year, the second one has been constructed, as you
know, two years ago, we intended to have an oil refinery, and today we
are discussing very seriously the construction of a railway. And if we
also extend this road, reconstructing the Kapan-Sisian and Kapan-Goris
road – this is a rather complex road – this road will have a big
transit capacity in that case. I am rather confident that we will
implement that project as well. I congratulate you and wish you a good
mood.

[Correspondent] This road, so to speak, gives a new lease of life to
six communities in Syunik Region, through which it passes. Previously,
they [the communities] were isolated, and at some time, were under
Azerbaijani occupation [as heard].

[Correspondent] Will it be possible to implement the projects
mentioned by the president? Will our country have the capacity to
implement them? Yes, we just need to trust in our own forces, the
president believes.

[Kocharyan] If we did not have that approach, we would not have the
Selim road, we would certainly not have the Northern Avenue [elite
multi-storey residential estate in the centre of Yerevan], and you
know in Soviet times they said that nobody dared to take this burden.

[Kocharyan] The [1988 earthquake] disaster zone would not have been
reconstructed, Tsaghkadzor [a resort in Armenia] would not have its
current look, etc. So we should realize that we have a much greater
capacity and much greater opportunities than we imagined.

[Correspondent] Where will Robert Kocharyan be working when the
projects he mentioned are implemented? The president of the republic
says that after doing all these things, it is impossible to step aside
and leave.

[Kocharyan] I can say one thing definitely – both the experience and
knowledge I have accumulated will continue to serve my homeland. The
time and the development of events will show – in which form, by which
schedule and by which option. It is impossible to step aside after all
this, but there are different ways of participation and it does not
necessarily imply being attached to an office. We will see which
option will be more efficient and more beneficial for the country and
for the interests of the people.

[Correspondent] There is also good news for residents of Meghri. The
president knows how long the residents have been waiting for gas at
their homes. Robert Kocharyan said that an instruction has been given
and work will start in the near future.

Artur Grigoryan, Arman Gharibyan, "Haylur", Syunik.