Revived Tatev means revived Syunik and competitive Armenia; president says
18.10.2010,
17:10
‘By building the longest aerial tramway in the world we didn’t aspire to surprise anyone.
YEREVAN, October 18, /ARKA/. ‘By building the longest aerial tramway in the world we didn’t aspire to surprise anyone. The objectives we are were following are modest by world standards; however they have crucial importance for Tatev and adjacent areas,’ Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan said Saturday during the inauguration of a ropeway in southern Syunik.
He said the “Tatev Renaissance” program is a strategic component of the comprehensive development program of Armenia’s southern regions constituting a serious impetus for the economic, scientific, and cultural development of the region. The world’s longest aerial tramway was built to facilitate travel to the medieval Tatev Monastery, nested on a hilltop in southern Armenian province of Syunik. The aerial tram is part of a larger project designed to bring more tourism to Armenia.
The 5.7-kilometer (3.54-mile) tramway, worth $18 million and built in two years, runs to the 9th century monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage candidate, some 280 kilometers away from Yerevan.
President Serzh Sargsyan, head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos Karekin II and six children from neighboring villages became the first passengers of the tramway, which is part of the Tatev Revival project worth $45-million. The project calls for creation of a tourism infrastructure, including a chain of B&Bs, a museum, revival of local culinary traditions.
The travel will take 11 minutes to reach the monastery located more than 100 meters above the Vorotan River, on which it is situated. The ropeway will run with the maximum speed of 37 km/h and will be officially launched on October 23.
‘The airtrial tramway is vivid evidence of the fact that even the most improbable dreams become reality when there is a clear purpose and faith and also when the right and important thing is being done obstacles sooner of later give in,’ president Sargsyan said.
‘The Monastery of Tatev and Tatev University are among the most celebrated centers of our science and culture. Tatev has been deservedly enjoying high repute thanks to the prolific activities of Grigor Vardapet of Tatev, who was a disciple of Hovnan Vorotnetsi. It is emblematic that the 600th anniversary of the canonization of the luminary of the Armenian and world theology Grigor of Tatev and the “Tatev Renaissance” program coincide in time. Giving new life to this ancient cradle of the Armenian letters and nearby areas is also an excellent gift for the 500th anniversary of the Armenian book-printing, which we will be celebrating soon,’ he said.
Armenian authorities said that they will apply to the Guinness Book of World Records to officially acknowledge that the tramway as the world's longest. The new tramway will function throughout the year and will allow visitors to bypass a 90-minute drive in and out of the rocky Vorotan River Gorge. -0-
He said the “Tatev Renaissance” program is a strategic component of the comprehensive development program of Armenia’s southern regions constituting a serious impetus for the economic, scientific, and cultural development of the region. The world’s longest aerial tramway was built to facilitate travel to the medieval Tatev Monastery, nested on a hilltop in southern Armenian province of Syunik. The aerial tram is part of a larger project designed to bring more tourism to Armenia.
The 5.7-kilometer (3.54-mile) tramway, worth $18 million and built in two years, runs to the 9th century monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage candidate, some 280 kilometers away from Yerevan.
President Serzh Sargsyan, head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos Karekin II and six children from neighboring villages became the first passengers of the tramway, which is part of the Tatev Revival project worth $45-million. The project calls for creation of a tourism infrastructure, including a chain of B&Bs, a museum, revival of local culinary traditions.
The travel will take 11 minutes to reach the monastery located more than 100 meters above the Vorotan River, on which it is situated. The ropeway will run with the maximum speed of 37 km/h and will be officially launched on October 23.
‘The airtrial tramway is vivid evidence of the fact that even the most improbable dreams become reality when there is a clear purpose and faith and also when the right and important thing is being done obstacles sooner of later give in,’ president Sargsyan said.
‘The Monastery of Tatev and Tatev University are among the most celebrated centers of our science and culture. Tatev has been deservedly enjoying high repute thanks to the prolific activities of Grigor Vardapet of Tatev, who was a disciple of Hovnan Vorotnetsi. It is emblematic that the 600th anniversary of the canonization of the luminary of the Armenian and world theology Grigor of Tatev and the “Tatev Renaissance” program coincide in time. Giving new life to this ancient cradle of the Armenian letters and nearby areas is also an excellent gift for the 500th anniversary of the Armenian book-printing, which we will be celebrating soon,’ he said.
Armenian authorities said that they will apply to the Guinness Book of World Records to officially acknowledge that the tramway as the world's longest. The new tramway will function throughout the year and will allow visitors to bypass a 90-minute drive in and out of the rocky Vorotan River Gorge. -0-
