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SkyWay demonstration and certification center was visited by Albert Zhukov, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the "Golden Chariot" prize. The purpose of the visit was the review of SkyWay achievements, discussion of prospects for cooperation and preparation to awarding Anatoly Yunitskiy and his team for the achievements in the field of advanced transport developments. The award ceremony will take place this summer in Prague. Prior to this, SkyWay string transport has already received this honorary prize. In 2009, Anatoly Yunitskiy's design development was acknowledged the best in the nomination "Project of the year in transportation industry."

In an interview recorded during Albert Zhukov's visit to EcoTechnoPark, he talks about a ten-year history of his familiarity with SkyWay string transport, shares impressions from what he has seen, expresses the opinion on the present and future of the world transportation infrastructure.

"Now it happened so that the "Golden Chariot" prize has already gone far beyond the Russia's limits. Today it is a prize that unites about 1,000 award winners from above 80 countries. Just a month ago, we have reached the UN level. We held an awarding ceremony there. Anatoly also had substantial changes for the recent years. Actually, I experienced a serious shock today, because when you see presentations and images during several years, you begin to understand that it will probably remain just in images. However, when you see it alive, you can touch it and ride in it, you can understand my feelings", - says Mr. Zhukov.

Project "Golden Chariot" lasting for 12 years now became sort of a transport "Oscar" and unites the major transportation Companies from many countries of the world." Mister Zhukov treats the cooperation between SkyWay and the "Golden Chariot" as a serious growth opportunity and benefit for both the sides united by common goals - to change people's lives for the better. Other issues of the conversation included electric vehicles, unmanned drone aircraft, SkyWay and Adgex, as well as much more.

Translation of the video:

Mikhail Kirichenko: Good day, Albert! I am happy to greet you on the Belarusian land. Please explain to our audience what has brought the Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the "Golden Chariot" prize to SkyWay EcoTechnoPark.

Albert Zhukov: Well, you know, just as the history develops by a spiral, the same happens with people. They sometimes meet and after several years they meet again. Perhaps, it is caused by certain events happening in their lives. We met with Anatoly Yunitskiy and his project in the State Duma of the Russian Federation about 10 years ago. His project is well-known. At that time, it had some image of a dream. There was a nice presentation film, nice pictures, very good speeches. It was clear that Anatoly had spent much time prior to it trying to implement the project. It happened so that about 2 years later we awarded A. Yunitskiy's project with the then Russian National prize "Golden Chariot", because it was a real breakthrough. It was a bright, courageous and daring project that would have been implemented and changed people's lives crucially, should the stars were in a different position some 7-8 years ago. Now it happened so that the "Golden Chariot" prize has already gone far beyond the Russia's limits. Today it is a prize that unites about 1,000 award winners from more than 80 countries. Just a month ago, we have reached the UN level. We held an awarding ceremony there. Anatoly also had substantial changes for the recent years. Actually, I experienced a serious shock today, because when you see presentations and images during several years, you begin to understand that it will probably remain just in images. However, when you see it alive, you can touch it and ride in it, you can understand my feelings. Prior to it, we had serious talks on the issue of long-term cooperation and partnership within the implementation of our international project, because our project "Golden Chariot" lasting for 12 years now became sort of a transport "Oscar" and unites the major transportation Companies from many countries of the world. We have many common aspects in our projects, therefore our partnership in this respect may become mutually beneficial and mutually moving forward. We have common goals and tasks. We are trying to demonstrate the best achievements to people. Here there is the transport of the near future that will change people's lives for the better. Accordingly, I am here to experience the feeling that I got from what I saw. I am very pleased. You know, there are not many people in the world who can make their dream real and see the implementation of their dream in their lifetime. For example, I had a goal to raise the level of the "Golden Chariot" to the generally acknowledged status at the UN. We managed to do it last month, when we held the grand ceremony. It is the same here, when a man has spent most of his life for the embodiment of his dream and can see it. Not only see, he takes an active part in leading this project to its practical use. I wish him good health to make it all so that people would get the transport of the future, though with some delay. It is very nice. On June 23-24 we shall have in Prague a joint event with the financial and banking Council of CIS countries. "Prague business meeting" with the aim to integrate CIS countries into Europe. Accordingly, Companies from CIS and European countries will be present there. We plan to celebrate there the achievements of Anatoly Yunitskiy and all your numerous team resulted in such a wonderful project. Now I can see a running unibus.

M.K.: Albert, it is no secret that this prize was also awarded to former SkyWay partners and our present competitors - the company Adgex. How did it happen? What has changed since that time and how can you compare the levels of these projects at present?

A.Z.: Well, you know, it is impossible to compare incomparable things. For example, there is one wonderful project. A month ago we have awarded in the UN a nice project from Italy called "Silk Way". A very nice project, but it is difficult even to imagine how much time it will take for its implementation, especially now. The project is very good by itself, everybody acknowledges it. The project that involves a number of acting Ministers from several European countries. It includes China and Russia and involves mayors of major cities. The purpose is simple - to connect China and Europe with a high-speed metro that will pass through Russia. Naturally, the mayors of the cities on the route have united in a single team, which is ready to implement this project. An excellent team, an excellent idea. Everybody understands it, including scientists. But it is impossible to tell the real term for its implementation. The same is here. I am not going to speak about similarities and differences of the technologies. I will tell you only one thing. Previously we received an application for this project from Australia. It was the only application from that country. Experts did not find anything criminal in it. But this project remains on paper so far. Therefore, how can we compare a paper project with the things that really exist? There is a strife to a dream and there is an implemented dream.

M.K.: You are an expert in your field. What is your view on the transport of the future?

A.Z.: There are so many types of it today. Therefore, it is rather difficult to speak about the transport of the future. For instance, some 10 years ago they spoke about electric cars as something impossible. Now more than half of the cars in Los Angeles are of that type. The office of Google has a parking lot for 50,000 cars for the staff. More than half of them are charged by drivers from electric sockets. Ten years ago people considered it as some remote future. There are already various drone aircraft that carry people. The other point is that some other systems should replace traditional modes of transport like the railway. It may be SkyWay, too.

M.K.: According to your impressions today, is SkyWay a transport of the future or of the present?

A.Z.: Five years ago I would call it future. Even three years ago. Today I can say it is a transport of the present. It is very pleasant when the future is drawn near by ordinary people. Or superordinary people?