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`100 Days' Press Conference of The Mayor

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  • `100 Days' Press Conference of The Mayor

    `100 DAYS' PRESS CONFERENCE OF THE MAYOR

    Azat Artsakh - Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
    15 Dec 04

    On the hundredth day of his office the mayor of Stepanakert Edward
    Aghabekian gave a press conference during which he stated that his
    activities are directed at a more rational solution of the social
    problems of the members of the community and accomplishment of the
    municipal governments. According to the mayor, though there is a
    legislative basis for the activity of the municipal governments in
    Karabakh, there is no clear-cut distinction between the community
    property and the state property. Presently the inventory record of the
    property of the town community is taken, after which the City Hall
    will use its right on the inventory. According to the mayor, the
    development of the communities will be favoured by the fact that since
    2005 the communities will direct the taxes on property and land. This
    will allow increasing the town budget. Edward Aghabekian mentioned the
    necessity of solving the question under whose jurisdiction a number of
    town companies will pass; these are in the town but seem not to have
    any connections with the City Hall. In the context of the growing role
    of the municipalities in the government structure Edward Aghabekian
    noticed that the mayor of the Azerbaijani town of Yevlakh, for
    example, is in the governmental delegation in the Council of
    Europe. In our country the municipalities do not have an essential
    role in the government. HOUSING PROBLEM. Accordingto Edward
    Aghabekian, during the hundred days of his office he received more
    than 500 town-dwellers. The problem of most of them was connected with
    housing. 154 families of killed azatamartiks and 123 families of
    disabled persons need flats. According to the mayor, in the upcoming
    two years it is planned to build houses in the streets Toumanian,
    Azatamartikneri and Tigran Mets. As to the high-rise blocks in
    Azatamartikneri Street, the idea of building flats for sale is not
    successful; only 6 or seven of the 28 flats were sold. HEADS OF
    DEPARTMENTS OF THE CITY HALL FINED. During the past 100 days the City
    Hall received about 900 letters and complaints and answered to all of
    them. `If answers to any letter were delayed, then by the department
    of architecture. By the way, the heads of several departments were
    fined for disrespectful attitude towards the townspeople.' He was
    surprised at the fact that the demands of the people are
    minimal. `They demanded elementary things without which we cannot
    live. Can you imagine that there are houses in Stepanakert which do
    not have electricity supply and people still have to use oil lamps. It
    is not known why the problems of these people were not
    solved. Although it should also be mentioned that there are people who
    do not mind to snatch away one more piece of bread,â=80=9D said the
    mayor. E. Aghabekian told that the City Hall applies sanctions against
    the owners of illegal buildings. `Although the parliament granted
    apeculiar economic amnesty for the owners of illegal buildings, fines
    totaling 860 thousand drams was paid to the treasury of the town for
    illegal building.' The mayor of Stepanakert mentioned that after
    taking his office he had been surprisedto know that the City Hall owes
    salary debts since 2000. The salary of 14 thousand drams for the
    doorkeeper is not paid. `'I saw the woman sweeping the streets at
    night with her little child standing beside her. It is owing to this
    woman that our capital is known as a clean town whereas we do not pay
    her these wretched 14 thousand drams,' said Edward Aghabekian. IS IT
    RIGHT TOMOVE THE STATION TO THE OUTSKIRTS? `The project of the station
    is not bad but the time chosen for moving it was bad,' said Edward
    Aghabekian in reference to the fact of moving the town station to the
    place of the former tarmac factory. Besides the problems typical of
    wintertime, roadworks are going on in Baghramian Street blocking the
    traffic in that direction. Speaking about the convenience of this
    change the mayor noticed that it would be better to ask the opinion
    ofthe town inhabitants beforehand. `In general, I am for introducing
    the institute of local referendums and I think that any step must be
    preceded by the survey of public opinion,' said Edward
    Aghabekian. THERE IS WATER BUTâ=80¦ In 2005 significant sums will be
    provided for the improvement of the water supply system of the
    town. The sluice, filters, pipes will be repaired. According to the
    mayor, the pipelines of the town pass through the cemetery, which is
    dangerous. The situation is aggravating, as the pipelines are very
    old. `In three years the tarmac of the street near the agricultural
    college was dug and pipes were repaired for 123 times. It turns out
    that this part of the pipes which was changed only four years ago were
    probably replaced by old ones. Therefore, Damages are so frequent,'
    said E. Aghabekian. THE MAYOR IS NOT IN ADVERSARIAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH
    THE GOVERNMENT. `The heads of the branches of power admit that I was
    elected by the people and my activity is legal. I state that I am not
    in contradiction with the top officials within the framework of my
    authority. I was not elected for struggling against the
    government. Sailing in the same ship we must lead it together not to
    crash against the rocks,' said the mayor. At he same time Edward
    Aghabekian mentioned that during these three months he had not
    received the documents on the reconstruction of the Victory Square
    from the government.

    NAIRA HAYRUMIAN.
    15-12-2004
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