ANDRANIK MARGARIAN: GAZPROM IS WILLING TO FUILFIL ITS INVESTMENT COMMITMENTS IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Dec 13 2006
Armenian Prime Minister’s Answers To Questions Of Noyan Tapan News Agency
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN. NT: Mister Prime Minister, according
to the agreement on transfer of the fifth power unit of the Hrazdan
Thermal Power Plant to the jurisdiction of Gazprom, which was signed in
April 2006, Gazprom assumed a commitment to invest the necessary funds
for completion of the power unit’s construction. At the same time,
there have been doubts that this commitment cannot be fulfilled, say,
under the pretext of lack of funds. What about this problem? When is
the construction of the fifth unit expected to finish? A.M: There is
no problem of insufficient funds. Gazprom has already transferred the
first tranche for the fifth power unit. Now the assessment of technical
state and the design work are under way. It is envisaged to complete
the 5th unit’s construction in 2008. NT: There are also investment
problems in the four operating power units of the Hrazdan Thermal Power
Plant, which are considered depreciated and non-competitive. RAO UES,
their owner, also speaks about investments. Will these investments
be made, and if so – when? A.M: First of all, the Hrazdan TPP’s four
power units are not the property of the RAO UES but the property of
the RF Federal Property Management Agency that manages it. As regards
investments, today these four power units can be operated in parallel
with each other, whereas in the past we were able to operate only two
units at the same time. Enough investment was made and is being made
in these units now. NT: The problem of communication routes linking
Russia and Armenia continues to be urgent. Can we expect progress in
this respect, be it opening overland routes or increasing the passing
capacity of sea routes (a new ferry, etc)? What steps does or can
the government take with respect to this problem? A.M: As you know,
the problem of opening the overland routes is related to improvement
of the Russian-Georgian relations, in which our country is, quite
naturally, interested. We have no right to interfere in the internal
affairs of the two countries. However, during meetings with the
authorities of these countries we have always stated that if Armenia
can assist with improvement of their relations, it is ready to do this
and will try its best. As for communication by sea, here we see some
opportunities to improve the situation and are conducting an active
dialog with Russia. This problem is one of the agenda issues of the
Armenian-Russian intergovernmental commission, with the sides being
committed to finding efficient solutions. During my recent visit to
Russia, we discussed seriously this problem during the meeting with
the Russian Prime Minister Fradkin. Taking into consideration that
the Verin Lars crossing point has been closed for an indefinite
time and its functioning has a seasonal character, the issue of
organizing Novorossiysk-Poti-Novorossiysk car-ferry transportation
becomes especially urgent. We also spoke about the launching of
the Kavkaz-Poti-Kavkaz reailway-ferry link. We are interested in
completing the construction of the second shift of the ferry complex
at the Kavakaz port as soon as possibble, which will allow to put
this route into operation. NT: Next year Russia is likely to cut off
the gas supply of Georgia, which may endanger Armenia’s gas supply by
Russia. How much prepared is Armenia to deal with such a situation:
for example, can this lack be compensated with gas from Iran? A.M:
If the gas supply from Russia is cut off for some reason or other,
Armenia’s energy system is ready to use such regimes that would cause
the minimal problems for both the economy and population in terms
of electricity and gas supply. The government attaches importance
not only to the operation of the new gas pipeline but also to the
use and development of alternative energy sources in the future, it
is already taking measures aimed at developing hydropower energy,
using wind energy and developing other sources. NT: The Russian
government recently made a decision to prohibit or restrict the labor
of foreigners in the country’s market. It means that tens of thousands
of Armenians may lose their jobs in Russia, which is fraught with
unpredictable consequences, up to the return of these people in large
numbers to homeland. Is the government taking any measures in this
connection (for example, Azerbaijan has set up a special governmental
commission)? A.M: I think the matter concerns the Russian government’s
Decision No. 683 of November 15, 2006 on Fixing the Permissible Number
of Foreign Workers Employed by Economic Entities Engaged in Retail
Trade in the Territory of the RF in 2007. When assessing the possible
consequences of this decision for Armenian citizens, we should view
two groups of our citizens: legal workers, i.e. persons who do not
break the RF migration legislation and the requirements on foreign
labor and so have job pewrmission, and illegal workers who are either
unregistered or have no job permission. Persons of the first group
can find jobs in other spheres after the decision comes into force –
their legal status allows them to do so. Naturally, persons of the
second group will have job problems. The decision’s approaches will
take effect in 2007, and it is not ruled out that as a result of the
practical use of this decision, these approaches will be reviewed
in 2008 and some new approaches will be adopted. Nevertheless,
it is likely that some of our citizens will return because of this
decision. They will be able to find jobs in the same order and by
the same rights as all our citizens: they can get registered at a job
agency and will be offered jobs, they may participate in competitions
for vacant jobs, as well as get a suitable job based on market demand –
in the same way as any other Armenian citizen.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress