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NEW GYUMRI MAYOR FUMES OVER "HUGE DEBT" FROM PREDECESSOR
http://www.armenianow.com/news/40594/armenia_mayor_gyumri_samvel_balasanyan_vardan_ghuk asyan
News | 26.10.12 | 10:59
The new administration of Armenia's second largest city of Gyumri has
accused former managers of running into huge and mostly unreasonable
debts as newly elected mayor Samvel Balasanyan met with Municipal
Assembly members on Thursday.
Enlarge Photo Samvel Balasanyan, Vardan Ghukasyan
At the meeting Balasanyan said the administration of his predecessor
Vardan Ghukasyan spent the money earmarked for the whole year of its
operations within just nine months, at the same time accumulating
a debt of about 827 million drams (more than $2 million) only for
utility services.
Balasanyan, a member of the Prosperous Armenia Party, took over as
Gyumri mayor earlier this month after winning in September elections
in which Ghukasyan, a longtime mayor of the city and member of the
ruling Republican Party of Armenia, did not seek reelection.
Balasanyan, who also enjoyed the support of the Republicans during
the election, made it clear to Municipal Assembly members that the
onus was on their successors - due to assume power on November 12 -
to clear up the mess and deal with the debt problem.
"There are debts for natural gas supply, electricity, communication
services, salaries, advertising, publication as well as to a number
of construction companies," state-run news agency Armenpress quoted
Balasanyan as saying.
The newly elected mayor, in particular, fumed over the arrears on
account of salaries for August and September that, he said, amount
to 209 million drams (more than $500,000).
"With such utility debts the municipality wouldn't be able to breath.
There are even some organizations that have threatened to take the
matter to courts," said Balasanyan.
Remarkably, among such "organizations" is also the recently built
posh hotel Alexandropol that belongs to ex-mayor Ghukasyan.
Meanwhile, as proof of his intent to keep the city expenses down, new
mayor Balasanyan said he would refuse to avail himself of bodyguards'
services.
http://www.armenianow.com/news/40594/armenia_mayor_gyumri_samvel_balasanyan_vardan_ghuk asyan
News | 26.10.12 | 10:59
The new administration of Armenia's second largest city of Gyumri has
accused former managers of running into huge and mostly unreasonable
debts as newly elected mayor Samvel Balasanyan met with Municipal
Assembly members on Thursday.
Enlarge Photo Samvel Balasanyan, Vardan Ghukasyan
At the meeting Balasanyan said the administration of his predecessor
Vardan Ghukasyan spent the money earmarked for the whole year of its
operations within just nine months, at the same time accumulating
a debt of about 827 million drams (more than $2 million) only for
utility services.
Balasanyan, a member of the Prosperous Armenia Party, took over as
Gyumri mayor earlier this month after winning in September elections
in which Ghukasyan, a longtime mayor of the city and member of the
ruling Republican Party of Armenia, did not seek reelection.
Balasanyan, who also enjoyed the support of the Republicans during
the election, made it clear to Municipal Assembly members that the
onus was on their successors - due to assume power on November 12 -
to clear up the mess and deal with the debt problem.
"There are debts for natural gas supply, electricity, communication
services, salaries, advertising, publication as well as to a number
of construction companies," state-run news agency Armenpress quoted
Balasanyan as saying.
The newly elected mayor, in particular, fumed over the arrears on
account of salaries for August and September that, he said, amount
to 209 million drams (more than $500,000).
"With such utility debts the municipality wouldn't be able to breath.
There are even some organizations that have threatened to take the
matter to courts," said Balasanyan.
Remarkably, among such "organizations" is also the recently built
posh hotel Alexandropol that belongs to ex-mayor Ghukasyan.
Meanwhile, as proof of his intent to keep the city expenses down, new
mayor Balasanyan said he would refuse to avail himself of bodyguards'
services.