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ARMENIA'S GYUMRI BECOMES PUTINVILLE
http://www.eurasianet.org/node/67789
November 22, 2013 - 7:38am, by Giorgi Lomsadze
Armenia Foreign Policy
Russia
Armenia's second-largest city of Gyumri is becoming a Potemkin -- or
rather a Putin -- Village for a two-day visit this December by Russian
President Vladimir Putin. In the best Soviet tradition, when the
South Caucasus would tidy up and put on a show for a Communist big wig
visiting from Moscow, Gyumri is having a long-overdue face-lift to look
good for Putin, who himself is said to have a soft spot for facials.
Potholed roads are being fixed, facades are being painted, garbage
is being carted away on a scale that Gyumri residents have not seen
since communism. "If Putin comes to town twice a year, Gyumri will
become a great city," joked municipal council member Levon Barsegian
in comments to the Tert.am news service. "It is shameful that it takes
a visit of a head of foreign state to renovate the city," he added.
Gyumri Mayor Samvel Balasanian said he is not even sure what Putin's
itinerary is going to be during the December 2-3 visit. Some expect
the Kremlin boss to skip the capital Yerevan and head straight to
Gyumri's Russian military base, a major strategic foothold for Russia
in the Caucasus.
So, with that in mind, workers also are busy renovating the road from
the local airport to the base, and everything around it.
The city will also be hosting an Armenian-Russian economic forum and
its venue, a local drama theatre, is covered in scaffolding after
10 years of neglect. The forum is now more important than ever after
Yerevan opted this September to go with the Russian-led Customs Union,
a decision that put the kibosh on accelerated integration with the
European Union.
But looks like Yerevan has more to give Moscow than just its economic
ambitions. It also will be handing over additional territory to the
Gyumri military base, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported. In
exchange, Russia will be handing over 18 helicopters to Armenian
troops.
Yerevan seems to have done enough to please the Russian leader,
but why stop when the going's good, some might ask. Landlocked as
Armenia is, "at this rate, they may even open an sea port in Gyumri,"
joked Bersegian.
http://www.eurasianet.org/node/67789
November 22, 2013 - 7:38am, by Giorgi Lomsadze
Armenia Foreign Policy
Russia
Armenia's second-largest city of Gyumri is becoming a Potemkin -- or
rather a Putin -- Village for a two-day visit this December by Russian
President Vladimir Putin. In the best Soviet tradition, when the
South Caucasus would tidy up and put on a show for a Communist big wig
visiting from Moscow, Gyumri is having a long-overdue face-lift to look
good for Putin, who himself is said to have a soft spot for facials.
Potholed roads are being fixed, facades are being painted, garbage
is being carted away on a scale that Gyumri residents have not seen
since communism. "If Putin comes to town twice a year, Gyumri will
become a great city," joked municipal council member Levon Barsegian
in comments to the Tert.am news service. "It is shameful that it takes
a visit of a head of foreign state to renovate the city," he added.
Gyumri Mayor Samvel Balasanian said he is not even sure what Putin's
itinerary is going to be during the December 2-3 visit. Some expect
the Kremlin boss to skip the capital Yerevan and head straight to
Gyumri's Russian military base, a major strategic foothold for Russia
in the Caucasus.
So, with that in mind, workers also are busy renovating the road from
the local airport to the base, and everything around it.
The city will also be hosting an Armenian-Russian economic forum and
its venue, a local drama theatre, is covered in scaffolding after
10 years of neglect. The forum is now more important than ever after
Yerevan opted this September to go with the Russian-led Customs Union,
a decision that put the kibosh on accelerated integration with the
European Union.
But looks like Yerevan has more to give Moscow than just its economic
ambitions. It also will be handing over additional territory to the
Gyumri military base, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported. In
exchange, Russia will be handing over 18 helicopters to Armenian
troops.
Yerevan seems to have done enough to please the Russian leader,
but why stop when the going's good, some might ask. Landlocked as
Armenia is, "at this rate, they may even open an sea port in Gyumri,"
joked Bersegian.