YEREVAN, APRIL 22, NOYAN TAPAN. Transport and communication sector is of great importance for Armenia, especially taking into account the current geopolitical problems and challenges, the prime minister Tigran Sargsian said when introducing the newly appointed minister Gurgen Sargsian to the staff of the RA ministry of transport and communication. According to him, IT sector is among the priority directions of the government's activities, and the ministry should be able to achieve a turning point in development of the sector and allow it to take a leading role in regional competition. Speaking about the work of the previous minister Andranik Manukian, T. Sargsian said that A. Manukian succeeded in establishing close relations with his partners from Russia, Iran, Georgia, Turkey and Azerbaijan, and this achievement should be maintained and developed. A. Manukian in his turn stated that construction of interstate roads has mainly been completed, part of the roads of republican importance have been reconstructed, and construction of rural roads has begun under several programs, including with state budgetary resources. Negotiations with the Japanese Bank have finished: the Japanese side intends to allocate 130 million dollars for restoration of rural roads in Armenia. It is envisaged to restore the whole road network of the country by 2010. According to A. Manukian, the inventory making of Armenian Railway will finish by May 15, and on June 1st the company will be transferred to South Caucasian Railway.

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