State Of Emergency In Yerevan

STATE OF EMERGENCY IN YEREVAN

05:58 pm | June 05, 2013 | Social

Art critic Karine Hakobyan says the idea of Yerevan’s chief architect
to reconstruct Republic Square is nothing but a crime.

“A criminal should be put in prison, he cannot supervise the capital’s
architectural projects,” she said.

Karine Danielyan, the president of the “For Sustainable Human
Development” NGO, also expressed her concerns over the proposal to
construct an underground passage in Republican Square.

“We can compare the project with the recent deadly gunfight in Goris,
where permissiveness resulted in the death of one person. Here,
they say, “Do you consider this a holy place, let us desecrate it.”

Danielyan says everything is done to deprive Yerevan of its historical
image. “He [chief architect Narek Sargsyan] seems to have taken a
sword in his hands with an aim to destruct the entire city.”

The environmentalist is not going to back down, she says the city is
in a state of emergency as it has become an ‘abode’ for snakes and
scorpions; the construction underway in the capital has deprived them
of their dens.

“Let Narek Sargsyan first apply to the Ministry of Emergency Situations
to solve the problem of snakes and scorpions,” she said.

The head of the Armenian Architects’ Union, Mkrtich Minasyan,
is also concerned over Yerevan municipality’s tender announced
for the reconstruction of the capital’s main square. He says the
reconstruction is illegal and Mayor Taron Margaryan is unaware of
Narek Sargsyan’s plans.

Minasyan does not agree with Sargsyan’s explanations that the square
needs to be reconstructed since its adjoining buildings no longer
serve their primary functions.

“This cannot be viewed as justification for Sargsyan’s plans. The
buildings will continue to stand in their places,” he said adding
that Republic Square is a already completed structure.

He says Yerevan citizens do not clearly imagine what the chief
architect is going to do with the square. Those who understand his
plans are categorically against the project.

“The square is very beautiful and does not need reconstruction,” said
a citizen. “They want to build garages here but why?” said a second.

“This is another way to launder money,” added the third.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress