Syunik Governor says social-economic programs in the province aimed to improve livelihood of the people

YEREVAN, MAY 11, ARMENPRESS:

The programs directed toward the solution of social-economic issues of the Armenian province of Syunik are under the spotlight of its governor Surik Khachatryan. These programs are directed toward the improvement of livelihood of the people. Armenpress news agency spoke with the governor of the province Surik Khachatryan about the prior issues of the province and steps to solve them.

- Your activity in 2010 was assessed by the executive power 96,08 points - the highest in the republic. Which is the guarantee of this high assessment?

- I consider this assessment the result of the activity of Syunik governor's office, local self-governmental establishments. I think this is not only my assessment but the assessment of our joint activity. It is being perceived by us as a big responsibility and obliges to work better, to increase the efficiency of the activity of the governor's office for the sake of development of the province and welfare of its residents.

- Which program of improvement of the social-economic situation of the province do you rate high?

- The program of social-economic development of the province for 2010-2013 approved in June 2009 points out a number of important issues. The most important of them are the issues presented by the communities. I particularly highlight the already launched program of reconstruction of Tatev monastic complex, construction of Halidzor-Tatev cable way, construction of new mine plant in the territory of Geghi, construction of Iran-Armenia railway, North-South highway, Meghri hydro power plant. The implementation of the mentioned programs will promote the increase of the level of livelihood of the people of the province, creation of new jobs and decrease of the unemployment rate.

- Which are the prior issues of the province? What steps are being undertaken in that direction?

- The province has a lot of various issues. Part of them has been solved. The prior issues that need to be solved are the road construction issues which exist in all the regions of the province. We also have issue of connecting a number of communities to gas network, we need to reconstruct Meghri's town hospital, and many such issues. These issues are gradually being solved. For instance, with the decision of the Armenian government new building will be built for the Meghri medical center by 2012.

- Last year, mainly connected with the unfavorable climate conditions, the province registered low agricultural indices. What steps are currently being carried out to assist the farmer?

- In spite of unfavorable weather condition, thanks to the targeted usage of professional potential and work we managed to increase the volume of agricultural products. As compared with the past years the number of farmer economies increased by 110, the number of organizations dealing with reprocessing of the agricultural products by 58.

- There are issues in the health sphere of the province. Particularly the province lacks doctors-specialists, medical devices. Are you going to carry out programs for the solution of the issues of the sphere?

- The issues of the health system of the province are gradually being solved. Today more favorable conditions have been created for providing medical services to the population. If few years ago we were solving issue of preservation of the system, today we are solving issue of upgrading it.

During 2004-2010 the medical establishments of the province were filled with medical devices amounting to 907 million AMD. In 2010 the cardiologic center started operating in the town of Goris.

As to filling the establishments with doctors, the Health Ministry has signed contracts with 4 doctors according to which they passed to work in the medical centers in provinces. Currently 12 doctors of the province are having classes in the National Health Institute of the Health Ministry.