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Too much work to do in Gyumri: Armenia's second largest city
celebrating holiday today
12:25 * 25.10.14
Armenia's second largest city, Gyumri, is celebrating its holiday on
Saturday. For those familiar with the local problems, the day is of a
symbolic significance, as it offers them a unique chance to evaluate
achievements and losses.
Vahan Tumasyan, the president of the local NGO Shirak Center, says a
major challenge remains the splitting between social groups stemming
from moral-psychological differences.
As a serious problem, he pointed out to the self-isolation of families
living without a permanent shelter since the 1988 earthquake. He said
those families have already developed psychological complexes,
shunning community and public events.
Tumasyan said he regrets that 26 years after the disaster, the problem
still remains unresolved and no longer of any interest to the
Armenians and people worldwide. What's even worse, he added, the
difficulties have deepened, without further hopes for betterment.
"While downtown Gyumri has improved to a certain extent, and we see a
progress in the psychological atmosphere in terms of crimes, it wasn't
the change that would alter life in the wagon districts, especially
ahead of winter. Even Christmas is not a holiday for them, let alone
the city day," he added.
Speaking of the achievements, he cited the positive changes in the
municipal authorities' work. "They aren't, of course, the authorities
I dream of, but considerable changes have taken place, both
qualitative and moral, and in other respects. The city's central
streets have improved. And in terms of corruption, the situation in
our city is now better than in other cities and towns in Armenia.
Waste disposal is well-arranged and the city has lighting," he noted.
As for the holiday's significance for Gyumri residents, Tumasyan said
he observes certain activeness in city on this day. "In other cities,
when I see a traffic jam, I get nervous, but feel very happy to see it
in Gyumri and to know that people live in the city. And the same goes
for events whenever I see that there are people here. But the most
important thing is to arrange the events in a way that would attract
the entire city. And for that, we need considerably serious work. And
the positive thing is that we normally have guests visiting the city
to liven up life, and there is a little trade" Tumasyan added.
President of the journalists' club Asparez Levon Barseghyan says he
sees more problems rather than tangible achievements in Gyumri. "The
fountains which they have repaired in the square is opening tomorrow;
we had champions this year. But the state authorities' attitude didn't
essentially change, as everything remained in the context of formal
arrival-departures and ribbon-cutting. But they are aware of the
problems in the city," he said.
Barseghyan further shared his concerns over the homelessness problem
and poverty. "Every seventh person in Gyunri is a resident of a wagon
today, with every second being poor. Ninety-five of each 100 wagon
residents is impoverished. The city is all in all plunging [into
misery]. As for the achievements which we now enjoy, they are the
fruits of the last Soviet investments; we'll have no more of this in
five years," he added.
Speaking to Tert.am, the regional governor of Shirak, Felix Tsolakyan,
said they have carried out considerable work to improve streets, but
agreed that a lot more still needs to be done to achieve more changes.
"One of our achievements is that 430 families will be provided with
apartments. New facilities have been launched; a school building was
constructed and handed over to operation quite recently. A lot new can
be said about the city, but we still have quite a lot of work in terms
of job creation and handling the emergency buildings," he added.
Asked about the message of the day, Tsolakuyan said he sees that the
holiday is of special significance for every resident of Gyumri.
"People in Gyumri will have quite a good fun that day. Events will be
held in different places: a street will be named after [Gyumri-born
great poet] Hovhannes Shirraz; there will be an exhibition and opening
of fountains, artistic speeches and a bakery festival," he said,
expressing hope that festivities raising the people's spirit will be
of great help for future positive changes.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/10/25/Armenia-gyumri-celebration/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
celebrating holiday today
12:25 * 25.10.14
Armenia's second largest city, Gyumri, is celebrating its holiday on
Saturday. For those familiar with the local problems, the day is of a
symbolic significance, as it offers them a unique chance to evaluate
achievements and losses.
Vahan Tumasyan, the president of the local NGO Shirak Center, says a
major challenge remains the splitting between social groups stemming
from moral-psychological differences.
As a serious problem, he pointed out to the self-isolation of families
living without a permanent shelter since the 1988 earthquake. He said
those families have already developed psychological complexes,
shunning community and public events.
Tumasyan said he regrets that 26 years after the disaster, the problem
still remains unresolved and no longer of any interest to the
Armenians and people worldwide. What's even worse, he added, the
difficulties have deepened, without further hopes for betterment.
"While downtown Gyumri has improved to a certain extent, and we see a
progress in the psychological atmosphere in terms of crimes, it wasn't
the change that would alter life in the wagon districts, especially
ahead of winter. Even Christmas is not a holiday for them, let alone
the city day," he added.
Speaking of the achievements, he cited the positive changes in the
municipal authorities' work. "They aren't, of course, the authorities
I dream of, but considerable changes have taken place, both
qualitative and moral, and in other respects. The city's central
streets have improved. And in terms of corruption, the situation in
our city is now better than in other cities and towns in Armenia.
Waste disposal is well-arranged and the city has lighting," he noted.
As for the holiday's significance for Gyumri residents, Tumasyan said
he observes certain activeness in city on this day. "In other cities,
when I see a traffic jam, I get nervous, but feel very happy to see it
in Gyumri and to know that people live in the city. And the same goes
for events whenever I see that there are people here. But the most
important thing is to arrange the events in a way that would attract
the entire city. And for that, we need considerably serious work. And
the positive thing is that we normally have guests visiting the city
to liven up life, and there is a little trade" Tumasyan added.
President of the journalists' club Asparez Levon Barseghyan says he
sees more problems rather than tangible achievements in Gyumri. "The
fountains which they have repaired in the square is opening tomorrow;
we had champions this year. But the state authorities' attitude didn't
essentially change, as everything remained in the context of formal
arrival-departures and ribbon-cutting. But they are aware of the
problems in the city," he said.
Barseghyan further shared his concerns over the homelessness problem
and poverty. "Every seventh person in Gyunri is a resident of a wagon
today, with every second being poor. Ninety-five of each 100 wagon
residents is impoverished. The city is all in all plunging [into
misery]. As for the achievements which we now enjoy, they are the
fruits of the last Soviet investments; we'll have no more of this in
five years," he added.
Speaking to Tert.am, the regional governor of Shirak, Felix Tsolakyan,
said they have carried out considerable work to improve streets, but
agreed that a lot more still needs to be done to achieve more changes.
"One of our achievements is that 430 families will be provided with
apartments. New facilities have been launched; a school building was
constructed and handed over to operation quite recently. A lot new can
be said about the city, but we still have quite a lot of work in terms
of job creation and handling the emergency buildings," he added.
Asked about the message of the day, Tsolakuyan said he sees that the
holiday is of special significance for every resident of Gyumri.
"People in Gyumri will have quite a good fun that day. Events will be
held in different places: a street will be named after [Gyumri-born
great poet] Hovhannes Shirraz; there will be an exhibition and opening
of fountains, artistic speeches and a bakery festival," he said,
expressing hope that festivities raising the people's spirit will be
of great help for future positive changes.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/10/25/Armenia-gyumri-celebration/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress