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OMBUDSMAN TO YEREVAN MUNICIPALITY: POINTING OUT SHORTCOMINGS IS OUR JOB
http://armenianow.com/society/human_rights/53346/armenia_ombudsman_report_yerevan_municipality
HUMAN RIGHTS | 07.04.14 | 11:51
Armenian Ombudsman Karen Andreasyan has responded to explanations
made by the Yerevan Mayor's Office following the publication of a
report revealing shortcomings in the work of the municipality.
Andreasyan stood by the criticism expressed in the report dwelling
on a number of particular areas that the Yerevan municipality had
presented counterarguments to.
To the observation of the Armenian capital's authorities that the
faulty law on unauthorized construction does not allow them to work
more efficiently in eradicating corruption in the sphere, the ombudsman
replies that the Mayor's Office has the right of legislative initiative
to amend the law, something that it did in the case with paid parking
in the city.
"In other words, if the Mayor's Office were interested in the removal
of double standards regarding unauthorized construction, this problem
could have been solved," Andreasyan wrote.
The ombudsman also appears to be little convinced by the municipality's
explanation that the shortage of kindergarten places for children is
not a problem common only to Armenia, nor does he accept the argument
that the city authorities are taking measures within the framework of
the law on all illegal constructions in the city without exceptions. He
brings the sole example of Closed Market, a listed building that was
subjected to architectural modifications last year, as sufficient
proof to the opposite.
Other criticism of the ombudsman concerns the absence of public
discussions prior to last year's controversial decision to raise bus
fares in Yerevan, the perception of disproportionate asphalting of the
central parts of the city and its suburbs, limited access for disabled
people in public transportation and elsewhere in city infrastructure,
as well as open prostitution and drug use in a central Yerevan park.
"Indeed, Yerevan has had many positive developments and good things
in our city have increased. But pointing out the existing shortcomings
is our work and redressing them is the work of the Mayor's Office. We
do our work regardless of evaluations and 'resonance'. We expect
the same from the Yerevan Mayor's Office and other departments,"
Ombudsman Andreasyan concluded.
http://armenianow.com/society/human_rights/53346/armenia_ombudsman_report_yerevan_municipality
HUMAN RIGHTS | 07.04.14 | 11:51
Armenian Ombudsman Karen Andreasyan has responded to explanations
made by the Yerevan Mayor's Office following the publication of a
report revealing shortcomings in the work of the municipality.
Andreasyan stood by the criticism expressed in the report dwelling
on a number of particular areas that the Yerevan municipality had
presented counterarguments to.
To the observation of the Armenian capital's authorities that the
faulty law on unauthorized construction does not allow them to work
more efficiently in eradicating corruption in the sphere, the ombudsman
replies that the Mayor's Office has the right of legislative initiative
to amend the law, something that it did in the case with paid parking
in the city.
"In other words, if the Mayor's Office were interested in the removal
of double standards regarding unauthorized construction, this problem
could have been solved," Andreasyan wrote.
The ombudsman also appears to be little convinced by the municipality's
explanation that the shortage of kindergarten places for children is
not a problem common only to Armenia, nor does he accept the argument
that the city authorities are taking measures within the framework of
the law on all illegal constructions in the city without exceptions. He
brings the sole example of Closed Market, a listed building that was
subjected to architectural modifications last year, as sufficient
proof to the opposite.
Other criticism of the ombudsman concerns the absence of public
discussions prior to last year's controversial decision to raise bus
fares in Yerevan, the perception of disproportionate asphalting of the
central parts of the city and its suburbs, limited access for disabled
people in public transportation and elsewhere in city infrastructure,
as well as open prostitution and drug use in a central Yerevan park.
"Indeed, Yerevan has had many positive developments and good things
in our city have increased. But pointing out the existing shortcomings
is our work and redressing them is the work of the Mayor's Office. We
do our work regardless of evaluations and 'resonance'. We expect
the same from the Yerevan Mayor's Office and other departments,"
Ombudsman Andreasyan concluded.