Yerevan may share ancient Ani’s fate – Armenian architect
16:24 – 07.06.13
Architect Sashur Kalashyan compares the construction projects being
implemented in Yerevan to the events that preceded the destruction of
ancient Ani.
`No one captured or destroyed Ani. The government came to its end, the
property was put up for sale, and the people saw they had no master
over them. They gradually left. The same is happening now,’ Kalashyan
told Tert.am.
The architect’s concern is that the building of the National Gallery
of Armenia Yerevan Chief Architect Narek Sargsyan spoke of in the
context of reconstruction of Republic Square may be turned into a
hotel.
Yerevan’s Republic Square will be turned into a square of hotels. One
of the buildings, which housed Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
has been sold to the Tango Company owned by Eduardo Eurnekian.
The second building is the Marriott Yerevan Hotel, and the central
post office is widely rumored as prepared to be sold to a Russian
enterprise.