| Χαράλαμπος Λουμάκης | |
| Υποψήφιος Βουλευτής Ν. Ηλείας - Νέα Δημοκρατία |
15.04.2003
Charalampos Loumakis
"Armenian specialists can work in any kind of communication company of
the world"
Charalampos Loumakis is rather famous political figure and businessman in Greece. At present he is General Administrative Director of ArmenTel in Armenia and at the same time he is a candidate of Greece Parliament membership.
"When the sale of the new mobile communication cards will start in Armenia?"
"Now I cannot concretely answer to that question, because the business-plan,
which is currently being prepared in OTE, is not confirmed yet. I think it
will be ready after a week. Business-plan includes a schedule where it is
expressed when this or that program is planed to be realized.
Currently Commercial and Technical Directorates are preparing the procedure
for increasing mobile connection technical capacity. Though the procedure
is being realized quickly, it can be finished only in summer of current year.
There were problems concerning not only to ArmenTel. For example we had great
difficulties while installing mobile communication aerials on certain buildings.
As soon as we wanted to buy this or that area in any building, their prices
were suddenly being increased. The same was with the territories we wanted
to rent, for example from the galleries, undergrounds or other.
But there is another version. OTE has a daughter-company, which is one of
the leading mobile communication companies of Greece. It is Cosmote, which
has taken on itself the mobile communication part of OTE's foreign daughter
companies in Albania, Skopye, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania. Cosmote is governing
very well, in other words is making investments quickly, because Cosmote
management is foremost pursuing the profit. The only country where the mobile
communication
of OTE daughter company has not passed to Cosmote yet is Armenia.
I'll be glad if Cosmote takes the governing of mobile communication of Armenia,
because Armenia surely has the need. I say need, because I see that today
Easy card costs for example 20 USD and it is sold by 200USD at black market.
It means that the people have the thirst of modern technologies.
Cosmote doesn't need much time. Let me bring an example: Cosmote installed
mobile connection aerials on the whole territory of Greece within 20 days
and in the result of it the newly created company became the leader in Greek
mobile communication. That is to say if the mobile communication sphere is
transferred to Cosmote, then I am sure all the residents of Armenia will
be satisfied".
"What hinders to transfer ArmenTel mobile communication sphere to Cosmote?"
"I think nothing hinders and soon this decision will be accepted. It would be a very good step realized by OTE. If the two owners of ArmenTel, OTE and RA Government decide that Cosmote must realize the leadership of that part of mobile communication, then there will be no hindering".
"Being OTE specialist how you’ll evaluate ArmenTel activity during these years and don’t you think that certain serious mistakes were permitted?"
"OTE was very seriously concerned about ArmenTel as well as has made
large investments. Of course there are certain disagreements between Armenian
Government
and OTE, particularly regarding the volumes of investments.
Armenian Government mentions that it doesn't consider this or that our investment
as an investment. We are of another opinion. I must also say that at this
moment Armenia has one of the best optic-cable systems, in other words Yerevan
network does not yields to the optic-cable network of Athens with its quality.
Soon three more digital stations will be operated which will increase more
the quality of the services.
As to the sphere of governing the frequent replacements of ArmenTel heads
surely create problems. It is one of those mistakes, which we really make.
But the mistake of frequent replacement of governing bodies in Armenia is
also rather spread. Maybe it is one of our two nations' shortcomings. But
the work goes on".
"You are also a political figure. How will you evaluate the Armenian-Greek relations of today?"
"When this investment was made in 1998, all the parties of Greece were
pro. It was their mutual decision. In other words this is one of those unique
cases when there were no disagreements between two major political parties
of Greece
regarding the realization of investments.
The reason is that the both parties agreed that Greek company assists Armenia
to develop economy, as one of the main principles of economy development is
telecommunication sphere. The relations between our two states are perfect
on all levels. We treat Armenians in Greece just the same way as other Greeks
who have returned to Greece from Diaspora. That is to say we consider Armenians
as very close friends of Greece.
In case when even any problem arises during the governing of ArmenTel then
it is solved on the other levels not creating hinderings for development
of our two states relations. At least we all are fighting for one goal, for
prosperity
of ArmenTel".
"How much the news regarding the intention of OTE to sell its shares correspond to reality?"
"I think it doesn't correspond to reality. As far as I know OTE is
not going to sell its shares.
It is another point that maybe OTE sell a part of its shares, for example
20% to the third shareholder. Though I don't think that the sell of this
investment is of Greek state interest."
"Here you work with staff. How will you evaluate the training of Armenian specialists?"
"I have work experience of 33 years in OTE and I can say that the specialists
here do not yield to OTE employees in anyway: they are equally talented and
I am very glad that I cooperate with them.
The Armenians are very good specialists. Concretely about more than 50% of
our company employees have higher education, which according to world level
makes very high percentage comparing with other communication companies. It
is easier to work with educated persons.
The participation of our Greek team here is mainly stipulated by the demand
to invest new European working style. It was easy to realize because there
was very good inner force. Armenian specialists can work in any type of communication
company of the world.
Our problem is that the number of our employees is very large comparing with
other companies of the sphere. Of course the "enemy" of the employees is
traditionally the new technologies. For example if 50-60 are necessary for
operation of
old type telephone stations then only 5 are needed for operation of new digital
ones. We have reduced the quantity of our employees to some extend, but while
starting the operation of each new digital station the necessity arises to
reduce the number of employees".
"What new programs are you planning to realize in your sphere?"
"As you know we realize wide activity also in the sphere of sport and
culture. ArmenTel has its own ensemble, football, volleyball, chess and a
number of
other teams, which have been created from our employees, we are supporting
universities, institutes and other educational sources.
We are also planning to create a communication museum. We are in steady connection
with the Ministry of Culture regarding this issue. We have already chosen
the territory."
"Is it not difficult to combine the political activity in Greece with the administrative work in Armenia?"
"It is very difficult. For example I can compare it with the case when a man tries to carry two water-melons in one hand."
Orran
15.04.03
By A.Tarjimanyan