Tuesday, 8 February 2011
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan: “Efforts will be made to redouble Armenian fish exports in 2011”
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan attended the launch of a water meter installation pilot program at a fish-breeding entity in Sipanik village of Ararat Marz.
In attendance were the ministers of agriculture and nature protection, government officials and local fish-breeders. Note that an arrangement to that effect was reached on February 2, 2011 at a consultative meeting held with the Prime Minister in order to demonstrate that the installation of water meters was a completely safe and risk-free undertaking for fish-breeders.
The head of government was briefed on the pace and efficiency of installation work. The heads of local fisheries voiced their concerns suggesting that individual approaches should be applied to each entity while installing the water meters.
In this connection, the Prime Minister pointed out that individual approaches were going to be applied to each farm and that the latter could get water meters from any supplier of their choice.
The head of government briefed the journalists on the outcome of the meeting held with domestic fish-breeders: “We seek to double the level of fish exports. We boasted a serious achievement in 2010 with over 500 tons of fish exported from the Republic of Armenia. The government tried hard to get Russian licenses for 22 Armenian fish exporters. Based on the existing capacities, our estimates show that exports will increase twofold in 2011. Specific standards inclusive of water meters and modern technologies will be introduced in the fisheries to make sure that they abide by safety standards. This is in the best interest of our consumers and stems from our international commitments.”
With reference to water use abuses, Tigran Sargsyan emphasized: “Dozens of rural communities in Ararat valley go short of water due to inefficient use of resources. There are some 3500 wells of which 2000 are functioning illegally. The State has not carried out proper user registration so far. As a matter of fact, the problem has to do with fish-breeding companies. Our studies have shown that several fish-breeding companies have unauthorized access to underground resources creating thus environmental risks for us. Water has to be put on record and we suggest installing water meters based on those 60 standards approved by the State. It is up to individual entities to pick out a water meters of their choice.”
Concerning the media-circulated rumors about would-be monopolies to be created in the fish-breeding industry, the Prime Minister stated as follows: “It is a non-sense to think of new monopolies. Our activities evidence that first of all we are trying to exercise control over large entities. To this end, the complete list of Armenian fisheries is posted on the official website of the Ministry of Nature Protection. Larger entities will be the first to undergo inspections and water-meter installation activities.”
Tigran Sargsyan stressed that the State will allow for the bottlenecks related with land category changes and the signing and extension of water user contracts. He went on to assure that the government will meet halfway the demands of our fish-breeders: “Efforts will be made to reduce the costs and redouble Armenian fish exports in 2011.”
In conclusion, the Prime Minister answered the questions of journalists.
