Pictures from my trip to Armenia

[crusader1492]

Construction is everywhere in Yerevan:

[crusader1492]

More:

[crusader1492]

I'll post more later...

[karoaper]

keep em coming man.

any pics of "karapi litch" and "opera house" at night?

[ace]

Yah, construction, its called "kicking existing families out of their homes so they can give consutruction jobs to people who suck the governments xxxx on a daily basis."

[NaiNoriTatiA]

Good Pictures, Keep posting them!!! :)

[crusader1492]

Yah, construction, its called "kicking existing families out of their homes so they can consutruction jobs to people who suck the governments xxxx on a daily basis."

There's always a critic...Old Yerevan is a dilapidated soviet mess and needs to change. It's called progress and long term vision, somthings Armenians are good at.
Armenians built Tiblisi, Beruit, Constantinople...now were builing our own city -for us. Get over it.

[crusader1492]

April 23 night march:

[crusader1492]

April 24th:

[crusader1492]

More April 24th:

[TomServo]

Thanks crusader. Keep 'em coming.

[crusader1492]

Sanahin Vank, Mikoyan Museum and misc.

[ace]

There's always a critic...Old Yerevan is a dilapidated soviet mess and needs to change. It's called progress and long term vision, somthings Armenians are good at.
Armenians built Tiblisi, Beruit, Constantinople...now were builing our own city -for us. Get over it.

It sickens me how you guys are completly unaware of these problems in Armenia.

Last Year, 500 people were displaced and made homeless because of xxxx like this.

[crusader1492]

It sickens me how you guys are completly unaware of these problems in Armenia.

Last Year, 500 people were displaced and made homeless because of xxxx like this.

Start another thread on this subject and educate us...thanks

[Quarteria]

EXCELLENT thread, crusader!!

[jgk3]

it is a visually insightful thread, nice pictures.

[Armenian]

Yah, construction, its called "kicking existing families out of their homes so they can give consutruction jobs to people who suck the governments xxxx on a daily basis."

What else is new in this world of ours?

Nonetheless, I am gald those Third World garbage ridden slums are being done away with for good. All those who "champion" the plight of these slum dwellers are basically manipulators who take advantage of poor sociological situuations to promote anti-government sentiments in Yerevan. These folk are nothing but the tools of Washigton DC and Ankara.

Show me a non-currupt government anywhere on earth. Take a close look at the governments in Washington DC, Moscow, Paris, Rome, Tel Aviv, etc. What makes you think Armenian politicians have to be Saints? I am not making excuses for the numerous faults of the current administration. However, you, as a responsible person, need to be objective and look at things with a more balanced perspective. For better or for worst, Kocharyan and company are the best we have today. The bottom line is our borders are secure. Artsakh is safe. Yerevan is developing closer ties with Russia, Iran and the EU. The economy is growing. Yerevan is blossoming. The social/political climate is calm. And a middle class is slowing begining to emerge.

Its funny how we Armenians want nothing but perfection. A city has to grow and modernize. If you want to put things in a proper perspective go and study how your city of New York grew. I'm sorry to say, we live in reality and in reality not everything in Armenia is perfect or can be perfect. Yeah, perhaps the relocation of these slum dwellers could have been better organized. Nonetheless, our Yerevan is growing and blossoming today.

[Anahita]

Construction is everywhere in Yerevan:

Those are worthless pictures (worth being measured in non-economic value). Go take those anywhere. Might as well just link to any construction site. Destruction of historical landmarks to build crap doesn't qualify as worth posting, to me.

I'll keep looking.

(Sarcastic, off topic "Tangent"--sorry Anonymouse!) Many times people have been funded to act like a local in order to do not good things... Oops, did I spill some beans? I'll keep looking at pics.

Honestly, this pisses me off. Tell me, crusader1492, why you are here?

My intuition, and other sources, say that you are not at all a genuine person.

I tease people who I like but don't agree with... I call out those who just lie.

[Anonymouse]

Those are worthless pictures (worth being measured in non-economic value). Go take those anywhere. Might as well just link to any construction site. Destruction of historical landmarks to build crap doesn't qualify as worth posting, to me.

I'll keep looking.

(Sarcastic, off topic "Tangent"--sorry Anonymouse!) Many times people have been funded to act like a local in order to do not good things... Oops, did I spill some beans? I'll keep looking at pics.

Honestly, this pisses me off. Tell me, crusader1492, why you are here?

My intuition, and other sources, say that you are not at all a genuine person.

I tease people who I like but don't agree with... I call out those who just lie.


What's in your panties this time? Now construction is evil?

[Anahita]

What's in your panties this time? Now construction is evil?

No.

True, I don't like historic places destroyed for some cheap 'economic' crap... but that wasn't my point. My point was that this guy is a slimy spy (no metaphor there--he's paid to do what he is doing.)

[Edit: in case that wasn't clear. HE is a LITERAL spy. HE was hired to be here, and in Armenia... oops... did I spill your beans (jackass?)]

[Anonymouse]

No.

True, I don't like historic places destroyed for some cheap 'economic' crap... but that wasn't my point. My point was that this guy is a slimy spy (no metaphor there--he's paid to do what he is doing.)

You don't know the first thing about economics. This is spurring growth and those 'historical' things are worth nothing. Sure, we can sit here and muse how great we once were and "oh the history" and let society sink and die of stagnation, or we can spur growth and revitalize the city and the economy from old and decrepit Soviet crap.

For starters, Marxists and environmentalists do not know the first thing about subjective value in economics and private property. If someone buys that land and has the captal to invest and build, that is his right and nothing is going to stop him. If you don't like it, I suggest you stop your rant and buy the land and 'preserve it' as it is. Until then, you have nothing important to contribute.

[Anahita]

You don't know the first thing about economics. This is spurring growth and those 'historical' things are worth nothing. Sure, we can sit here and muse how great we once were and "oh the history" and let society sink and die of stagnation, or we can spur growth and revitalize the city and the economy from old and decrepit Soviet crap.

For starters, Marxists and environmentalists do not know the first thing about subjective value in economics and private property. If someone buys that land and has the captal to invest and build, that is his right and nothing is going to stop him. If you don't like it, I suggest you stop your rant and buy the land and 'preserve it' as it is. Until then, you have nothing important to contribute.

First let me say, I DO know about economics! Second, I already said that you assume too much about what I say. Third, my 'on topic' :rolleyes: point was that this guy is a literal paid person working for the US government.

[Anonymouse]

First let me say, I DO know about economics!

No you don't.


this guy is a literal paid person working for the US government.

Where is your evidence?

[Heavy G]

Those are worthless pictures (worth being measured in non-economic value). Go take those anywhere. Might as well just link to any construction site. Destruction of historical landmarks to build crap doesn't qualify as worth posting, to me.

I'll keep looking.

(Sarcastic, off topic "Tangent"--sorry Anonymouse!) Many times people have been funded to act like a local in order to do not good things... Oops, did I spill some beans? I'll keep looking at pics.

Honestly, this pisses me off. Tell me, crusader1492, why you are here?

My intuition, and other sources, say that you are not at all a genuine person.

I tease people who I like but don't agree with... I call out those who just lie.

What's your point? Last time I checked, development was a good thing....

[bell-the-cat]

What's your point? Last time I checked, development was a good thing....

Hmm, so we have another new cretin, straight from its egg, pecking away as if it owned the World, ready to join its pals Crusader and the self-proclaimed The Armenian. :mad:

[crusader1492]

Wow, my thread attracted not one, but two site pests...must be a good thread.

[crusader1492]

No.

True, I don't like historic places destroyed for some cheap 'economic' crap... but that wasn't my point. My point was that this guy is a slimy spy (no metaphor there--he's paid to do what he is doing.)

[Edit: in case that wasn't clear. HE is a LITERAL spy. HE was hired to be here, and in Armenia... oops... did I spill your beans (jackass?)]

Shut up you dizzy whack-job.

[jgk3]

Are they building houses there too, or just apartment buildings?

[crusader1492]

Just apartment buildings I think (in the downtown area anyway).

[jgk3]

yeah, thought so...

I'd be nice to see a middle class society living in nice bungalos and all, but that's not realistic I guess, at least for now.

[Quarteria]

So, the US government is paying crusader to spy on Armenia/Armenians? ...Do they feel threatened by Armenia's quick rise to become the next superpower? He's getting PAID to be here?!! Oh man, how bad is our economy? This is the best espionage program we could afford? CRUSADER GET OFF THE PAYROLL IF THE BEST YOU CAN DO IS POST HERE!!!...but, feel free to add more pictures. Everytime I see the Armenian flag it becomes more beautiful. :)

Anahita, if you're going to make acusations like that, please provide proof.

[Armenian]

Sure, we can sit here and muse how great we once were and "oh the history" and let society sink and die of stagnation, or we can spur growth and revitalize the city and the economy from old and decrepit Soviet crap.

What does "historic landmarks" have to do with the new constructions occuring in Yerevan? I bet the treehugger has never even stepped foot in Armenia, let alone have seen what the slums of Yerevan looked like before they began to be razed. Not a single landmark, monument or historic building has been destrroyed. Also note that generally speaking Yerevancis are very sensitive towards this issue as they love their city and cultural heritage.

I know that the scottish xxxxxcat has some pointless picture to post to make a case for Bolsheviks and treehuggers. I'm waiting.

[Ari]

yeah nice dude

going to armenia on the 24th would have been kool in a way

[skhara]

Well,

I hope eventually they tear to the ground everyone one of those peices of crap Soviet projects.

For one thing, those buildings are not safe. I remember how the whole of Northern Armenia was turned to dust in that earthquake. The San Francisco quake measured higher on the ricter scale and there was nothing of the sort.

Tear down the garbage, and put up some well engineered, structurarly sound buildings in their place.

[bell-the-cat]

Some pointless pictures for the pompous self-proclaimed "Armenian". The demolition of the affordable houses of ordinary people near the center of Yerevan, because the mafiosi/politicians don't like the idea of such people living so close to their seat of power.

[bell-the-cat]

yeah, thought so...

I'd be nice to see a middle class society living in nice bungalos and all, but that's not realistic I guess, at least for now.

Armenia doesn't have much of a middle class anymore. There are mostly now only the very rich, and the poor. No need to guess which group is getting those new houses.

[TomServo]

The diasporans will be arriving in the summer and putting money into the economy. :)

[bell-the-cat]

Not a single landmark, monument or historic building has been destrroyed. Also note that generally speaking Yerevancis are very sensitive towards this issue as they love their city and cultural heritage.


Proves what a downright liar you are. :mad:

[jgk3]

Some pointless pictures for the pompous self-proclaimed "Armenian". The demolition of the affordable houses of ordinary people near the center of Yerevan, because the mafiosi/politicians don't like the idea of such people living so close to their seat of power.

I found the swastika symbol in the second picture particularily funny, considering what I've read about the origins of that symbol.

Anyway, I remember one of my relatives from Armenia coming over to Montreal and saying how their city looked so much better than ours... She insulted many of our buildings, which is downright stupid. Finally my father got really mad one day and insulted her Yerevan to the point she began to cry...

This woman (who was in her early 40s at the time) was a teacher who didn't have any supplies to teach with in her school, and she worked for free practically... The kids would just show up there so the parents can go to work. It was more like a garderie for older kids than a school. She was a widow and had two a son and two twin daughters, so maybe they were taking advantage of her? She reached the point where she'd have to move in with her late husbands brothers or cousins or something, and she was worrying that they'd want sex from her as a means of payment, according to the letters she'd send us from Armenia at least, so one day, my grandmother (still alive at the time) used all of my late grandfather's money that he left her to get her and her son plane tickets to come over, stay for half a year and make some actual money, and fly back.

With her twisted Soviet mentality, she had the nerve to denounce Montreal, Canada during her stay. I'm sure Yerevancis like her love their cultural heritage and city.

I honestly hope that she was just a poor first impression of a Yerevanci is. I've only met one other Yerevanci (a girl 2 years older than me from an Armenian summer camp), whom I shared this example with (after some kid on the bus was singing Mer Hayrenik obnoxiously loud, I desperately needed a way to silence him), and she said, "No not all of us are like that (as I logically presumed), my family was from the upper middle class, and we lived relatively well." Still, they emigrated, but that's understandable... Armenia isn't the most stable place to live and if you want good education for your kids, you'll have to look elsewhere.

All in all, I'm somewhat skeptical about all these construction projects. I acknowledge that they boost the economy and that Armenia is improving in this respect, but the people who live there... I think this turmoil will last for them. You cannot hide it with your shiny patriotic words. Some day, maybe 50 years down the line, if the world is still in one piece, the turmoil will finally disappear. For the time being, the government is making improvements that may lead to this reality somewhere down the line, at the cost of the generations living today.

[crusader1492]

Proves what a downright liar you are. :mad:

Transparent Turk: don't pretend that you care about Armenian culture and people...you don't and we all know it. Your cynical, specious and contemptable posts are overt evidence of that.

[bell-the-cat]

Anyway, I remember one of my relatives from Armenia coming over to Montreal and saying how their city looked so much better than ours... She insulted many of our buildings, which is downright stupid.

Well, Montreal, although OK in parts, would never win any beauty contest for cities! :) And the old town is a hodge-podge of buildings, each one with its own style of design and damn-all concern for neighbouring structures. And of course massive and insensitive demolitions in the 70s and 80s. And soulless suburbs of appartment blocks and industrial estates.

In the 1990s Yerevan had the unique chance to become what few other capitals are and which all would like to be: a compact, modern, European city, with an atmosphere and physical appearance unique to itself, a pleasant place to live and work in, full of green parks, with inexpensive low-rise houses right in the very city center. But the current rulers, helped along by get-rich-quick-at-any-price diaspora scum like "Crusader", have destroyed for ever any chance of that happening. :(

[jgk3]

Oh, interesting... This was during the reconstruction phase after the earthquake of 88 I presume?

[crusader1492]

If bell-the-cat is against it, it must be good for Armenia.

[bell-the-cat]

Oh, interesting... This was during the reconstruction phase after the earthquake of 88 I presume?

???:confused:
I think you have misread my post. 1st paragraph is about Montreal, 2nd is about Yerevan (or was there an eathquake in Montreal that nobody knows about :) )

[bell-the-cat]

If bell-the-cat is against it, it must be good for Armenia.

Crusader takes the "if it is good for the oligarchy then it must be good for Armenia" approach. Co-incidentally (of course :rolleyes: ) that will also be the most financially lucrative approach for him personally.

[ace]

I dont consider the landmarks that have been destroyed "historical landmarks" - because they have a history no older then 50-70 years at most...those are not our historical landmarks, we have churches and buildings that date back 1000 years ago. THOSE, must be preserved.

The important issue here is that the buildings they are knocking down, are pretty xxxxty, true, and their not very safe, true, but they are also the only buildings the POOR in Armenia can afford (which I'm sad to say is the overwhelming majority). So their knocking down apartment buildings that so many people need - sending families deeper into poverty, thus, xxxxing the economy even more.

The only "good" that comes out of this is the few construction workers that get jobs.

[ace]

And dont argue against me on this issue.

[bell-the-cat]

I dont consider the landmarks that have been destroyed "historical landmarks" - because they have a history no older then 50-70 years at most...those are not our historical landmarks.

That is not correct. The majority of buildings that have been demolished were constructed during the Czarist-period.
It is short-sighted to say that buildings that are not old are not, or do not have the potentual to be, important historical landmarks. For example, although dating only from the 1970s the "Palace of Youth" was a landmark structure, and an irreplacable building for the architectural history of Yerevan. In any other country it would have been protected against demolition.

[TomServo]

Perhaps Bell's next account (http://www.hra.am/eng/?page=issue&id=15680) will be of the cultural destruction going on not in Nakhichevan, but in Yerevan. :eek:

[jgk3]

???:confused:
I think you have misread my post. 1st paragraph is about Montreal, 2nd is about Yerevan (or was there an eathquake in Montreal that nobody knows about :) )

no, I read it fine... I'm talking about the earthquake in Armenia. I was unaware that they were building up Yerevan to look like a modern compact European city.

[ace]

That is not correct. The majority of buildings that have been demolished were constructed during the Czarist-period.
It is short-sighted to say that buildings that are not old are not, or do not have the potentual to be, important historical landmarks. For example, although dating only from the 1970s the "Palace of Youth" was a landmark structure, and an irreplacable building for the architectural history of Yerevan. In any other country it would have been protected against demolition.

The Palace of Youth - we call it "Kertsats Koukoorooz" - which means Bitten Corn, cause it looks like somebody took a bite off of it, ya know?

Anyway, as far as im concerned, that building is STILL there.

I remember hearing some news like that about it though.

[bell-the-cat]

no, I read it fine... I'm talking about the earthquake in Armenia. I was unaware that they were building up Yerevan to look like a modern compact European city.

You are unaware because they are not! They are doing the exact opposite. You HAVE misunderstood my post. :wave:

[bell-the-cat]

The Palace of Youth - we call it "Kertsats Koukoorooz" - which means Bitten Corn, cause it looks like somebody took a bite off of it, ya know?

Anyway, as far as im concerned, that building is STILL there.

I remember hearing some news like that about it though.

It's long gone: demolished last year. :(

[jgk3]

You are unaware because they are not! They are doing the exact opposite. You HAVE misunderstood my post. :wave:

Ok, I guess so then. But you said that in the 90s, they had a "chance" to do such a thing... I got the impression that they actually started work on it and boosted the moral of the public, since you seemed to be at the defense of my relative who insulted Montreal's architecture.

[ace]

It's long gone: demolished last year. :(

Omg, you stupid parasite, I know my country better then you do.

That building is STILL THERE. The pathetic oligarchy wanted to bring it down because they said it was an earthquake hazard, and they were gonna rebuild it better, with 10 additional floors. And THAT is what you're referring to last year, it did not get demolished, it is still there.

[jgk3]

wow.

[Armenian]

Some pointless pictures for the pompous self-proclaimed "Armenian". The demolition of the affordable houses of ordinary people near the center of Yerevan, because the mafiosi/politicians don't like the idea of such people living so close to their seat of power.

Correct Catman, pointless pictures. And the Swastika was most probably something you painted for "shock and awe" effect, correct?

As far as I'm concerned, the demolition of slums must continue. Yerevan must modernize. The poor will do better on the outskirts of the city.

Catman, you need to study the "evolution" of Londonistan before you can give us advise about Yerevan. I wonder if slums would have been allowed near 10 Downing street, or Westminster? I wonder if slums would be allowed to exists in midtown New York City? I wonder if slums would be allowed to remain in downtown Vienna?

Can't you go off and Champion the plight of drunken Scotts or something? I mean we do approciate your great effort regarding Virtual-Ani, but why stick your nose everywhere it don't belong? Do you find Armos going into British forums and annoying the kaka out of people? Do you find Armos sticking their big noses into your affairs?

[Davo88]

In a decade or two, Yerevan will become a decent modernized city if construction continues at this rate.

However, there's no sign of this construction boom in the smaller cities and towns.

[Armenian]

Armenia doesn't have much of a middle class anymore. There are mostly now only the very rich, and the poor. No need to guess which group is getting those new houses.

The Armenian nation has not had a "middle class" in about a hundred years.

During soviet times most Armenians were living in poverty but they did not know it. And a minority, the party elite, had a decent life. A middle class is only now slowly begining to emerge. And yes, those new buildings are foreseen for wealthy diasporans and natives. What we are seeing now is the natural evolution of a modern city. Again, don't stick your nose where it don't belong, Catman.

And it's been about two years, and I'm still waiting for you to say something smart.

[Armenian]

Proves what a downright liar you are. :mad:

Proves what a downright lunatic you are :naughty:

NO HISTORIC LANDMARKS HAVE BEEN DEMOLISHED.

[Armenian]

That is not correct. The majority of buildings that have been demolished were constructed during the Czarist-period.

This comment proves your delirium.

Yes Catman, much of the filthy slums of Yerevan sprang-up during the Czarist period. Does this mean we must preserve them?

It is short-sighted to say that buildings that are not old are not, or do not have the potentual to be, important historical landmarks. For example, although dating only from the 1970s the "Palace of Youth" was a landmark structure, and an irreplacable building for the architectural history of Yerevan. In any other country it would have been protected against demolition.

Bullkaka. The "Palace of Youth" is an ugly Soviet eyesore, not a landmark by any stretch of the imagination. I don't recall seeing it last summer but I hope you are right about its destruction.

Of the Soviet era modern architecture, I like the Sports Complex. And notice how Yerevancis adore ii as well? Notice how Yerevancis adore Tamanyan's buildings? Notice how Yerevancis adore their museums, theaters, concert halls, etc?

Yerevancis love their city and they appreciate their cultural heritage.

Onward bulldozers, the modernization of Yerevan must forge ahead. :evil:

[Armenian]

In a decade or two, Yerevan will become a decent modernized city if construction continues at this rate.

I agree. And if you take into consideration the socio-political conditions under which the natives of Armenia have had to live, its nothing short of a miracle.

Despite earthquake, war, economic collapse, blockade, landlock, f***ed up neighborhood, Armenia today is one of the safest, most stable countries in the world. This speaks volumes about the capability, civility and tenacity of our nation.

However, there's no sign of this construction boom in the smaller cities and towns.

This is only natural. The construction boom will spread to other areas after its saturation in Yerevan. It will take time, perhaps a generation or two. I only hope nothing bad happens to Iran or Russia in the meanwhile, for that will have dire consequences for our fledgling republic.

[Armenian]

Anyway, I remember one of my relatives from Armenia coming over to Montreal and saying how their city looked so much better than ours... She insulted many of our buildings, which is downright stupid. Finally my father got really mad one day and insulted her Yerevan to the point she began to cry...

And what was the point of this stupid post of yours?

[jgk3]

Also note that generally speaking Yerevancis are very sensitive towards this issue as they love their city and cultural heritage.

My initial reaction towards this.

[Armenian]

My initial reaction towards this.

Why don't you be proud that your compatriots love their homeland, instead of Diasporans like you who love all things not-Armenian. Some of your comments just don't make sense, perhaps its your father's influence.

[bell-the-cat]

Omg, you stupid parasite, I know my country better then you do.

That building is STILL THERE.

Proving once again that some Armenians think they can out Turk the Turks (or, these days, the Azeris) by saying utterly ludicrous lies and actually expecting those lies to be believed. :mad: Will you now be like an Azeri and say that these photos are just forgeries, produced using photoshop?

http://armenianpages.com/ap-photos/2005/youth_palace/youth_palace.htm

[bell-the-cat]

...perhaps its your father's influence.

I doubt whether there is a risk of The Armenian having that failing :laugh: (Is the B-word banned, BTW?)

[bell-the-cat]

Correct Catman, pointless pictures. And the Swastika was most probably something you painted for "shock and awe" effect, correct?


No, the "shock and awe" was done at the hands of the police, thugs, and assorted other goons, who assaulted the inhabitants of that street some days after those photos were taken.


As far as I'm concerned, the demolition of slums must continue. Yerevan must modernize. The poor will do better on the outskirts of the city.

Yes, keep the unwashed away from sight, preferably in fenced-in enclosures perhaps (AKA concentration camps). After all, they just clutter up the streets anyway, with their clapped out cars and ordinary clothing and their silly expectations of having human rights, making life difficult for the gold-chained leather-clad likes of Armenian and his pals who want to race around in their BMWs and Humvees.

[jgk3]

Why don't you be proud that your compatriots love their homeland, instead of Diasporans like you who love all things not-Armenian. Some of your comments just don't make sense, perhaps its your father's influence.

It doesn't make sense to you because you've seen Yerevan, you've known Yerevancis, I don't. All I have to work with is first impressions and ethnocentrism. Yes, this is part of my father's influence I'll admit. He's never been to Armenia either, even though his mother went once every few years. She loved Armenia and Armenians in general, but even she said that this woman's mentality towards the outside world is far from healthy.

The woman, after returning to her glorious city, wanted to come back a year or two later, this time, move here with her kids! Pfft. We couldn't afford to keep them here any longer. Besides, generally when you want a favour from someone, you don't go insulting the their domain. Ass kissing isn't good either, but it's not as retarded as what she did.

Maybe this is diasporan mentality, I dunno, but in my opinion, it's just common sense.

[crusader1492]

Omg, you stupid parasite, I know my country better then you do.

That building is STILL THERE. The pathetic oligarchy wanted to bring it down because they said it was an earthquake hazard, and they were gonna rebuild it better, with 10 additional floors. And THAT is what you're referring to last year, it did not get demolished, it is still there.

"Stupid parasite"...so fitting. Why didn't I think of that whwn describing bell-the-cat. Brilliant.

[bell-the-cat]

NO HISTORIC LANDMARKS HAVE BEEN DEMOLISHED.

More information for cretins like "Crusader" and "Armenian" to ignore. :rolleyes:

----

PROTEST ACTION AGAINST DEMOLITION OF HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL MONUMENT

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24.
ARMINFO.

"The Civil initiative of Kond safety" public organization organized today a protest action against the demolition of a building in the center of Yerevan.

The building was built in 1910-1914 and involved in the State list of historical and cultural monuments.

As far as journalists know, it was bought by our compatriot from Diaspora Nazaret Berberyan. The action participants covered the building with posters "My elitist Erebuni" and "It is demolished by the state" and continued the picket in front of the Armenian government's building.

----

AZG Armenian Daily (www.azg.am)

April 9th, 2005

The buildings 9 and 11 in Byuzand Street are included in the list of the historical-cultural monuments. These days, the deconstruction works are at full swing in there. By the order of the owner of the building, the workers are ruining the old–fashioned balconies of the building from the yard’s side. Daily Azg informed Artiom Grigorian, head of RA Agency for Historical-Cultural Monuments’ Preservation, about this. He promised to let know a relevant department of the Yerevan Municipality.

The dwellers of the yard that found themselves in dust and rubbish were extremely irritated and angry at the ignoring attitude displayed to them. The workers were transferring the logs of the ruined balconies in front of our eyes. A representative of GlendaleHills ltd. introduced himself as the owner and rather cynically said: "Many people just like you came, watched and went away but they didn’t managed anything. If you come the day after tomorrow you will find this building totally ruined. Nothing will be left here, we are going to destroy everything." I told him to show the permission to destroy, he answered that it isn’t with him. The ignorant "boss" who was destroying a historical-cultural monument and was fancying himself "an owner" had no idea of the building’s value.

"Many films have been shot here. Famous Armenian and foreign directors and actors worked here. "Sweet Mother," "Serob’s Tree" and "My Dear Yerevan" as well as many other films were shot here. I can’t remember all of them," Mrs. Emma, a dweller of one of the apartments of 9 Byuzand Str said.

By Ruzan Poghosian

----

HEAD OF GARNI COMMUNITY DESTROYS "SYMPHONY OF STONES"
YEREVAN, MAY 2 2005. ARMINFO.
Armenia loses an unique and picturesque
monument of its nature - "The symphony of stones" located close to the
1th century pagan temple of Garni in the gorge of Azat river. Some
local residents, with approval of rural administration were engaged
in truly vandalism, "felling" magnificent basalt broadstones created
by nature itself as building materials.

"Head of rural administration is responsible for any actions", Chief
of territorial administration department of the Kotayk region Stepan
Ghazaryan stated ARMINFO. The same response was also received from
Armenian Ministry of nature protection. Ministry's press-secretary
Artsrun Pepanyan informed that territory does not a nature-conservative
so "Ministry does not have a legal right to punish anybody". It is
not known if government interferes in this deal, however, it is a
fact that vandals had already not left "a stone standing".

As ARMINFO leaks out, basalt broadstones finished by nature within
hundreds of years became necessary for rural "businessmen" for
sale. These broadstones as perfect by their form that they will be
used in construction without any additional processing. According to
unspecified information, "legal" permission of cut off the stones
was given by the head of Garni's rural community Ashot Vardanyan
himself. He refuses to answer on journalists' phone calls.

----

18 Jul 2005
YEREVAN'S ARCHITECTURAL MONUMENTS TO BE RESETTLED INTO ONE AREA
YEREVAN, JULY 13. ARMINFO

Within a year the Architectural Council of Yerevan will make a list of the capital's architectural monuments, says Yerevan's chief architect Samvel Daniyelyan.

There are two categories of monuments: to be preserved on their historical location and to be relocated. Daniyelyan says that the scattered historical monuments do not reflect the whole color of Yerevan and discord with the architectural style of the "new center."

He says that new the construction of business centers and hotels in the center of Yerevan requires new stylistic approaches. It would be absurd to build in XXI in the style of XIX, says Daniyelyan.

And so the municipality has decided to bring together part of Yerevan's architectural monuments into a small area covering Aram, Buzand and Koghbatsi streets.

----

REQUIEM IN THE BUZAND STREET

A1+
02-09-2005

"1830-2005": under the mourning poster with this title the residents of
the Buzand street organized a requiem this evening. Every passer-by
could approach the table in the middle of the street and raise a
glass in memory of the historical street which is being destroyed
before our eyes today. Approaching the table many people mentioned
that they are drinking not to the memory of the Buzand street but to
that of the RA Government.

In the evening the Buzand street represented another scene. There were
already posters near the barricades: "Deport", "Fight, fight...". As
for the equipment destroying the houses of the street, the residents
have drawn the fascist swastika which is a symbol of barbarism.

The residents of the streets are discussing their future steps as
to what they must do to meet the policemen. By the way, today no
one has made any attempt to enter the street and to free it from
the barricades.

The residents of the street do not exclude the possibility of the
policemen to visit them at night. "All the same we have nothing to
lose. We will lie on the ground", they said.

----

THEY DRIVE OUT PEOPLE FROM OWN HOUSES IN CENTER OF YEREVAN "FOR STATE NEEDS"

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2. ARMINFO.

More than 10 families living in the
center of Yerevan (Byuzand street) will find themselves without houses
within the nearest days. Some families living there were driven out
from their houses by an officer of justice. It should be noted that
the officer in justice acted without an appropriate order not waiting
the end of legal processes. As regards the rest families, they intend
to organize a sitting protest demonstration. The officer of justice
is going to clean this street on Sept 5 leaving the outcasts without
houses and adequate compensations

----

IN 3-5 YEARS YEREVAN CENTER WILL LOSE ITS FACE

A1+
26-09-2005

While "victims of state needs" gathered opposite the Yerevan
municipality and demanded a meeting with the Yerevan mayor, the
chief architect of the capital Samvel Danielyan told the journalists
inside the building how they will reconstruct the areas "bought"
for state needs.

Today during the usual briefing Mr. Danielyan spoke about the monuments
of historical-cultural importance. Their list has finally been verified
by the Government. The monuments have been divided to two groups -
of local and state importance. Those in the first group will not be
transported, and the 14 buildings in the second group are subject
to transportation.

So, according to the chief architect, in 3-5 years Yerevan will
have its center finished. As for how much money will be needed to
realize the project, Mr. Danielyan was not sure, but he informed
that a competition will be organized. The winners will make
corresponding investments and will realize the projects ratified by
the Government. Samvel Danielyan announced that there will also be
local rich people among the investors.

----

MOSQUE - EVIDENCE OF YEREVAN HISTORY

A1+
16:20:43
The oldest historical building in the center of Yerevan is the mosque
located in Mashots avenue. All the Armenian cultural and historical
"evidence" were destroyed within the program of the city center
development.

Today the building of the 19th century is still preserved in
Amiryan 4/16 street though the staircase is ruined. A well known
Armenian painter used to live in the building. According to the
project elaborated by architects and supported by oligarchs a new
7-storey building should be erected in the place. The only cultural
and historical building in the territory was de-energized. In this
very building intellectuals gathered to find out a way to protect the
building which contained a plate with inscription "protected by state".

To note, the building 4/16 belonged to Dignity party chairman Lyudmila
Harutyunyan, who stated that it will serve as a staff of a social
movement.

According to her, only the unity of the society can improve the
situation.

----

PRESS RELEASE
The Greens Union of Armenia

ABOUT THE NEWLY PROPOSED PLAN FOR THE CITY OF YEREVAN

November 17, 2005

The area covered by the City of Yerevan was 16,000 hectares during the
Soviet period. In the 90's, during President L.D. Petrossian,
territories from the villages adjacent to the city, such as the orchards
and the arable lands of Shahumian, were placed under the city's
administration, thus making these territories part of Yerevan and
increasing the city's area to 22,660 hectares.

The new plan of Yerevan is proposing to convert these lands, which
include orchards, vineyards, fields, wooded areas, to development -
residential and/or commercial, under the false claim that these lands are
contaminated, without collecting samples and performing any analysis.
This decision has NOT been approved by The Ministry of Agriculture or by
The Ministry of Nature Protection. There is a false claim that the new
plan will increase the green, vegetated area and improve the air quality
of the city. However, upon close examination of the plan, the following
facts emerge:

Status of Lands

Current Land Use - Proposed Land Use Under the New Plan
2915.5 hectares of arable field - development
282.5 hectares of orchard - development
395.9 hectares of vineyards - development
922.2 hectares of other agricultural lands - development
1234.1 hectares of wooded, forested land - preserve 660 hectares develop the remaining

In addition, there is a severe lack of unbiased inventories of green
areas of the city. For example, Yerevan's Orchards of Dalma, covering
about 780 hectares and containing many wooded areas, vineyards, fields,
etc., is presented in the new plan as a barren site. Out of the 780
hectares, only 256 hectares are going to be preserved, and these 256
hectares of the Orchards of Dalma, in the new plan, are arbitrarily
classified as forested land and are presented as an increase in wooded,
green area for the city. (The Orchards of Dalma have a central location
in the city.)

Again, arbitrarily, the new plan has decided to preserve only 660
hectares of forested land out of the 1,234. Thus, the destruction of
the wooded, green areas of the city continues in full force. Forested
land and wooded parks, tended for decades, are falling prey to
development. For example, the forested land adjacent to "Victory" park,
is being sacrificed to a residential development called "The Canadian
District".

The Greens' Union of Armenia is proposing the following changes to the
city's new plan:

a) Return all agricultural lands and wooded, forested areas to the
villages - all the lands "grabbed" in the 1990's.
b) Provide incentives to farmers to better utilize those lands -
intensify the agriculture, the silviculture, etc. This will generate
more income both for the growers and for the government as tax revenues,
and, at the same time, save fertile, arable lands from development.
Also, preserving wooded, green areas will help in preserving the air
quality and improve the overall environmental health.

----

[bell-the-cat]

And more....

YEREVAN LOST ITS FEATURES AS CAPITAL, CULTURE FIGURES THINK

YEREVAN, JANUARY 13 2006, NOYAN TAPAN.

The January 13 discussion with
participation of cultural figures organized at the "Hayeli" club was
dedicated to discussion of new architectural solutions of
Yerevan. According to estimation of participants, Yerevan, as a city
and especially as a capital, has already lost its features becoming a
mixture of European and other incomprehensible
architectures. According to them, corresponding departments have no
clear strategy and legislative field in this sense. "The new
appearance of Yerevan isn't a good one, it's faceless with strange
muddle-headed or absurd and vulgar solutions," Armen Mazmanian, the
Artistic Head of the "Goy" theater said. According to him, a very
extended "construction of buildings" which doesn't correspond to any
norms of city building and doesn't side with any direction of classic
architecture is implemented in Yerevan today. And film director Tigran
Khzmalian finds that today men occupied themselves with city building
have no enouth love and tenderness. "It isn't accidental that any work
of art is perfect when it's created with love and delicacy. Now the
city has passed to hand of small bourgeoises, and nothing has remained
of Yerevan once built with knightly love," he stated. According to
artist Artur Martirosian, all strata of society are responsible for
the created situation. According to him, "we agree with any type of
assaults silently, as a result of what, we have what we have."

----

FORMER KNIGHTLY YEREVAN TURNS INTO PETTY –BOURGEOIS CITY

Each building of old Yerevan designed by Aleksander Tamanian bears his love for his wife. This love reaches the hearts of those who really love their city, the city of sun, Yerevan.

Yet, the new "owners" of the city are allowed to do everything and destroy the old buildings of XVIII century, the historical-cultural heritage of our capital.

Few representatives of intelligentsia or public figures dare to touch upon this painful issue. Most of them prefer to remain silent, otherwise they can lose their prizes, status, posts.

Director Armen Mazmanian stated that the city is full of ugly and vulgar buildings. "The city has lost its face. There is no urban construction strategy," he said during the discussion at "Hayeli" club.

Two other representatives of intelligentsia film director Tigran Khzmalian and artist Arthur Martirosian also expressed concern about the current architectural state of Yerevan.

Tigran Khzmalian said that Yerevan became a petty-bourgeois city during the last 15 years.

"Yerevan is a knightly city build on love. Now it has become a petty bourgeois city. The knightly Yerevan is being destroyed, killed. It is kept beneath a shop window. Several old buildings preserved from the knightly Yerevan will be gathered in one place and called Old Yerevan. The city, the cars, the clothes depict the portrait of a nation, an individual, a family. Today’s Yerevan is our self-portrait," Mr. Khzmalian said.

Arthur Martirosian is sure that we all are to be blamed for the current state of the city. "The elite buildings that are built at present, do not differ much from the pseudo-urbanistic buildings of 1960-70. The situation grows worse in the suburbs," he said.

What is the way out? "There used to be public figures and publicist. But they have disappeared now. They are silent," Armen Mazmanian said. "We live in a country of lie, where 1 million votes can be falsified. If they dare to do such things during the constitutional referendum, they may do everything with the city. We have lost the civil society that was shaped in 1988. We can’t settle a single issue, if we do not restore it, he said.

By Ruzan Poghosian

----

Hetq online - 01/23/2006 - www.hetq.am

The Last Bastion

By Christian Garbis


This neighborhood in central Yerevan, hidden away from adjoining Abovyan
Street as it enters Republic Square, is undergoing demolition, its
residents to be scattered to destinations unknown. The deconstruction
represents the beginning of yet another downtown construction project,
the nature of which has not been divulged. As in areas throughout the
city's center in response to the ongoing Northern Boulevard construction
project, dozens of historical buildings are being raised, some dating as
far back as the first Armenian republic - or over 80 years ago, when
present-day Yerevan was just beginning to take form.

The reason why this hamlet stayed protected from the public eye is its
location, situated directly behind the National History Museum and Art
Gallery, and on the right side flanked by a five-floor Stalin-era
apartment building sitting at the foot of Nalbandyan Street. Countless
families were once living here, not all with modern comforts as some
houses erected as temporary shelters decades ago lacked indoor plumbing,
with their inhabitants resorting to sharing a public water tap that is
never turned off during the winter to prevent the pipes from freezing.

The remaining residents have until February 16 to vacate their homes,
after which another piece of modern Yerevan's brief history will be
permanently destroyed.

----

Hetq Online - 13/02/2006
www.hetq.am

Another Historic District of Yerevan Is Being Destroyed
By Christian Garbis

In the heart of Yerevan, just a stone's throw away from Republic Square,
lies a hamlet that is completely hidden from the view of foot traffic on
adjacent Abovyan and Nalbandyan Streets, between which it is wedged.
The hamlet, once an active, thriving community, has already fell victim
to the haphazard construction boom taking place throughout the city's
center, as about 80 percent of it has been demolished. As is anticipated,
by mid-March the entire historic neighborhood will be utterly destroyed.

To date about 50 homes have been completely ripped out.
Approximately 1,000 residents relocated to parts unknown. They were
given sums of money from a private developer, the sums of which
they did not reveal to others. Although the price per square meter of land
in central Yerevan is averaging $1,500, residents living in neighborhoods
slated for demolition are paid a fraction of their property's actual worth.


Albert and Ophelia Vartanian

Ophelia Vartanian has been living in the neighborhood since 1953, when she
moved from Tbilisi at the age of 22 to marry her husband, Albert. She worked
for over 30 years in the food market that had occupied the first floor of
the apartment building at 3 Nalbandyan Street since its completion until
it finally closed in 2002. Now she lives on an insignificant pension of a few
thousand drams.

"We're expected to leave here, but as soon as a contract is given to us
to sign, once we have agreed on a price. But we haven't heard anything
because the guy's taken off."

A Syrian-born businessman known as Avedis, last name unknown, who lives
in the United States but conducts business in Armenia is responsible
for developing the land, with the aim to build at least three high-rise
apartment buildings on the property.

"If he is not an Armenian citizen, then he's got to have connections with
people at the top to do what he wants here. What other excuse is there?"
Albert stated.

However, the developer Avedis recently left the country on suspicion of
mishandling funds related to the construction. But bulldozers were still
at work clearing land as seen on February 4.

"I don't feel sorry for him. He's doing alright. He can do what he pleases
because he has the means to do so," Albert added.

Hundreds of families were either evicted from their homes or paid off
to leave on Arami and Buzand Streets in the city's center-two of the oldest
streets in Yerevan that contained buildings from or even before the turn
of the century.

The Vartanian home was originally a horse stable when modern Yerevan
was still in its infancy, then was converted to a residential home.
But the structure is so old no accurate date of construction can be placed.
Over the years the house was expanded and now accommodates three
families-just about 15 people in total.

When Ophelia and Albert moved to their new home, the wide, five-story
apartment building situated on 3 Nalbandyan Street, which until now served
as a protective barrier for their neighborhood, was just being constructed.
Many of the hamlet's residents then moved into the building's apartments,
while newcomers replaced them in their old homes.

Ophelia explained that many of the families were happy to receive payment
to leave their homes. "Some houses were in bad disrepair. People were using
cartons to fix up their homes. They weren't living well." But she could not say
where the families ended up living as she was not informed.


Once upon a time, a neighborhood


Not all houses around the Vartanian home have been destroyed. A few still
remain that are situated only 100 meters to the right. One home still manages
to stay intact, despite the fact that the tiny houses surrounding it were
smashed apart. Because of lack of plumbing its residents must frequent
an outdoor toilet, its door affixed with a lock. Just beside it a public tap runs
continuously so that the pipes do not freeze. The water is used both
for drinking and washing, at times the basin serving as a kitchen sink.
>>From the few walls that stand of the house husks serving as monuments
to lives past, remaining residents tear out all wooden studs to use as firewood.
In demolition nothing is spared.

The hamlet is part of a larger area described as Old Yerevan, stretching from
the neighborhood known as Kond located on the left side of the city to as far
east as Hanrapedutyun Street. All of these small districts will eventually be
destroyed, along with it the city's history from the last 150 years or so.

The homes in the hamlet are given the common address of 3 Nalbandyan Street,
although the same address is also given to the apartment building. The quarter
was then arbitrarily divided into sub-addresses for purposes of distinction.
However, visitors to the neighborhood would simply ask residents for directions
to someone's home, since address markings did not exist on any structures there.

Alongside Arami Street just behind the National Museum and Art Gallery lie a few
locked sheds once serving as businesses. The owner of one booth still makes
copies of keys. A few vendors were setting up tables displaying various items
for sale, including shoelaces, batteries, and power plug adapters. One family
lives in a shed formerly used by an optician, relying on a small wood-burning
stove to keep warm, the walls covered in soot as they use anything they
collect that will burn, including foam packing materials.

Other old apartment buildings can be found just behind the shops that line
the left side of Abovyan Street but are totally out of site by pedestrians. Both
the shops, contained in historic buildings themselves, and the houses behind
them will also be demolished to accommodate the new buildings to be
constructed, but whether they will in fact be built anytime soon still
remains unknown.

Four years ago the Vartanians were informed that they would soon
have to leave and would be paid about $5,000. Then recently they were told
that each person in the family would receive an individual payment. However,
Albert and Ophelia's oldest son's wife and children are not officially registered
as residents of their home, thus they are not entitled to receive payment.

The Vartanians find it useless to seek legal action since recent lawsuits filed
against the authorities by residents to protect their rights have resulted
in suppression by intimidation, beatings, or arrest. Last October public
defender Vahe Grigoryan, who was defending residents of Buzand Street,
was arrested on allegedly trumped up charges of extortion and forgery
of documents by the National Security Service (aka KGB) and was reportedly
beaten. He may receive a conviction of up to 10 years in prison.

Ophelia does not want to leave, nor does anyone else in her family, including
her ninth-grade grandson. But they realize that eventually they will have
to clear out.

"If I'm not offered an amount that's high enough to buy a new home
somewhere else, then I'm not going to sign a contract, if that even happens,"
Ophelia explained. "Why should I give up my home if there is nowhere else
for me to go?"

[bell-the-cat]

And a few more....


----

IN YEREVAN THEY DEMOLISH WITHOUT ANY PLAN

Lragir.am
11 May 06

Samvel Danielyan, the architect of Yerevan, reports cases when a
building in the center of Yerevan is pulled down without envisioning
what to build in its place. Such as, for instance, the Sevan Hotel and
the House of Cinematography. There are no fixed projects yet, but there
are proposals, assures Samvel Danielyan. An investor proposes to build
a multifunction high-rise in the place of the House of Cinematography
which will be located on the 3rd and 4th floors of the building. "The
present facilities of the House of Cinematography no longer satisfy
modern requirements. Studios and the administration will be based
on these two floors," informed the architect of Yerevan. The rest
will be rent as office space. "Although this project was approved by
Yerevan City Planning Board last year, there is an important question,
which makes us delay a final decision on this project. This problem
allows the City Hall not to accept the project with regard to the
height of the building and parking facilities. I have no doubt that
it has a city planning accent. The central avenue of Yerevan starts
from the high-rise of the Central Post Office on Saryan Street and
does not have an accentuated ending.

Debates on building a high-rise to mark the end of the avenue somewhere
near the House of Cinematography were going on."

It has been foreseen to build another multifunction building in the
place of the Sevan Hotel. Samvel Danielyan says the project was put
out to tender. The project of a designer was chosen, which "resembles
the former Sevan Hotel with its volume and space, floors, tower, but
in terms of architecture the projects needs further elaboration. They
were offered to review the project. I think there is not going to be
a skyscraper there," announced Samvel Danielyan.

----

IS IT TIME TO HAVE A NEW ARCHITECT?

A1+
[04:36 pm] 11 May, 2006

Three architects sat side by side in the club "Mirror" and criticized
the "bustle" of the capital's construction works. The two former chief
architects of the capital and the recent one were among them. All
of them confessed that 6 years ago the capital wasn't ready for the
constructive works, that's why they couldn't avoid mistakes.

One of the participants was the chairman of the architects' union
Mkrtich Minasyan who opposed others.

The other was the head of the Yerevan project institute Gurgen
Musheghyan. The latter mainly supported his counterpart, the chief
of the municipality architecture and urban development department
and the chief architect of Yerevan Samvel Danielyan. Mkrtich Minasyan
claimed that the sore point of the capital is not the ugliness resulted
by the construction works. "The point is that we were to preserve
certain normative claims which existed earlier," he urged. Asked the
question whether he liked the view of the capital from the heaven,
he answered negatively. We tried to find out whether he liked the
Yerevan of his period. "It wasn't that good either," said the chairman
of the architects' union.

He also focused on the fact that constructors break "the red line;"
they want to use public territories as commercial objects. Architect
Musheghyan brought the example of Hrazdan gorge where multiple
entertainment objects were built and according to his words the
visibility of the gorge became obscure.

Samvel Danielyan also confessed that the gorge is a serious
environmental problem for the RA capital as the country doesn't have
seas and lakes and claimed that all the new objects legalized their
buildings through the court system. As a proper way to avoid further
wilderness he suggested making the roofs of the buildings green.

The most interesting point was the chief architect's contemplation over
his actions when he claimed that they were immature and unprepared
during the constructions of Northern Avenue and they will not repeat
their mistakes later on as they have already become mature and learned
a lot of new things.

----

We Need to Defend Ourselves from Ourselves
http://www.hetq.am/eng/society/0604-tapan.html
April 10, 2006

Stone fragments with Armenian letters inscribed on them were scattered on the ground. Two huge heaps of headstones not far from each other… No, this scene was not in liberated Kelbadjar, nor in Nakhidjevan.

It was in Yerevan, the capital of the Republic of Armenia, in April 2006. This construction site was on Aygegortsneri Street, on the road between the Nork and Nor Nork districts.

“I wonder who the owner of this is,” my son said. I had taken him along with me to show him how we Armenians treat our national treasures. “What difference does it make who the owner is?” I said.

The headstones had been brought here from somewhere else. Apparently they had been in someone's way, and he or she “liberated” the territory and decided to use them as building materials. No one had tried to prevent the dislocation, the carnage of headstones.

There was a dead dog lying right between the piles of headstones, next to the symbols of eternity, and, a few steps away, a broken piece of a cross.

The appearance of the headstones, their engravings, suggested that they were centuries-old, cultural treasures.

We Armenians are now building one more restaurant or hotel using our ancestors' headstones. In Kelbadjar, Azerbaijanis used stones from our demolished churches to build houses. There are such houses in dozens of villages there. We are doing the same thing here in Yerevan.

Armenians everywhere have closed ranks to protest against the barbarous destruction of Armenian khachkars by Azerbaijanis in Nakhidjevan. But who will protest, who will fight against us, here at home? Perhaps we should appeal to various international organizations and ask them to come and protect our treasures from ourselves?

Do you think that after seeing these pictures the minister of culture or the prosecutor general or some other official will take this matter up? Of course not—they have more important things to do. One is planning an upcoming pan-Armenian cultural event, another is planting trees, a third is building a hotel, or putting up an “elite” apartment building in the center of Yerevan, or staging a show about fighting against corruption in the National Assembly…

Edik Baghdasaryan

[TomServo]

Ah well, at least the old buildings in Gyumri and Vanadzor are being preserved or still standing (for now).

[Armenian]

Catman, your spamming of this board with CIA funded news sources is not proving anything but your obsessive delirium.

No historic building have been demolished in Yerevan. I guess you have a problem defining what constitutes a historic building: One of significant political/cultural and/or architectural value.

Incidentally, I also have a problem in the hasty and often haphazard way in which the authorities have been transforming Yerevan. Moreover, although I could afford owning a "Humvee" or "BMW," I prefer driving economical Japanese automobiles. I also despise gold chained, leather clad, fancy car drivers. Therefore, I suggest you refrain from trying to "profile" me, you will only make yourself look stupid.

With regards to this topic of discussion, I am being objective and trying to put things in a proper historical and a realistic perspective. What's more, although I care for Armenia's poor and I regularly donate money to various benevolent organizations and individuals, I rather not live next door to impoverished families. Simply put, this is cold hard reality. I live in reality - you live in fantasy Catman. Like I said, stop sticking your nose in our internal issues. Know your place amongst us for we are tolerating you. Thus, don't abuse our hospitality.


Can't you go and champion the plight of the drunken Scotsmen? :naughty:


The modernization of Yerevan must continue. Onward bulldozers :evil:

[skhara]

I don't think I could part ways with my Toyota even if I could afford a BMW. She and I have been through a lot together. :)

Oh Armenian, I don't think he's causing any harm, so relax. :)

[Heavy G]

Sad to see that Youth Center go though...That's a picture that comes to mind when thinking of "Yerevan" but I guess that's privatization at work you...........

[One-Way]

Beautiful.

And the xxxxxing should be kept in another thread. Keep this thread free of all that.

[Armenian]

Oh Armenian, I don't think he's causing any harm, so relax. :)
Enker Skhara, guests should respect their status. :)

[crusader1492]

Catman, your spamming of this board with CIA funded news sources is not proving anything but your obsessive delirium.

No historic building have been demolished in Yerevan. I guess you have a problem defining what constitutes a historic building: One of significant political/cultural and/or architectural value.

Incidentally, I also have a problem in the hasty and often haphazard way in which the authorities have been transforming Yerevan. Moreover, although I could afford owning a "Humvee" or "BMW," I prefer driving economical Japanese automobiles. I also despise gold chained, leather clad, fancy car drivers. Therefore, I suggest you refrain from trying to "profile" me, you will only make yourself look stupid.

With regards to this topic of discussion, I am being objective and trying to put things in a proper historical and a realistic perspective. What's more, although I care for Armenia's poor and I regularly donate money to various benevolent organizations and individuals, I rather not live next door to impoverished families. Simply put, this is cold hard reality. I live in reality - you live in fantasy Catman. Like I said, stop sticking your nose in our internal issues. Know your place amongst us for we are tolerating you. Thus, don't abuse our hospitality.


Can't you go and champion the plight of the drunken Scotsmen? :naughty:


The modernization of Yerevan must continue. Onward bulldozers :evil:

You don't have to explain yourself to the pillow-biting cat. Everyone knows he's a Turk.

[Armenian]

You don't have to explain yourself to the pillow-biting cat. Everyone knows he's a Turk.

Well, obviously, he is not a turk. He is just an aloof, condeceding, stuck up - thinks he knows everything and he will save the world - Scoty.

[crusader1492]

Well, obviously, he is not a turk. He is just an aloof, condeceding, stuck up - thinks he knows everything and he will save the world - Scoty.

Well,if he's not a Turk, he's still a pillow-biter. Agreed?

[Anahita]

Transparent Turk: don't pretend that you care about Armenian culture and people...you don't and we all know it. Your cynical, specious and contemptable posts are overt evidence of that.

Quite an ironic post from crusader1492, in my opinion. Honest--please be that. Would you like a MIRROR?

[TigranJamharian]

I dont know why anyone would defend the process that is going on in Yerevan right now.
Any impetus this is giving to the economy in general is going tenfold into the pockets of Kocharian and Sarkissian and the diasporans and Persians that had the money to pay them and the city authorities off. these kerac xemats shanvortik get fatter and fatter while poor old women are thrown out of their homes without even 1/2 of the compensation they are entitled to.

Noone here is saying that development is a bad thing, at least i hope noone is saying this, but the process is a$$fukking our normal society. We could have this and so much more for our beautiful country if we could just all unite and start giving a crap about corruption and these bastards sucking the blood and life out of our country. Yes the country is moving ahead, but Armenia could be moving ahead 10 steps instead of one if the fat bastards werent terrorizing and pillaging our potential.

Stop stupidly fighting each other and lets recognize the "elephant in the room". our country is mired in corruption and by ignoring it to create a nice facade for our nation we are only slowing ourselves down and letting those bastards that dare make a profit at the peoples expense get richer and richer and more powerful.

[Quarteria]

Quite an ironic post from crusader1492, in my opinion. Honest--please be that. Would you like a MIRROR?

OH FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS HOLY & NIXON!!!!! Do NOT turn this thread into that episode of The Twilight Zone where everybody accuses everybody else of being the alien from outer space!! You know...any one of those episodes...

[bell-the-cat]

I dont know why anyone would defend the process that is going on in Yerevan right now.


The few that are making a lot of money out of the present situation would defend it, and want it to continue.
Those sort of people are represented on this forum by the likes of Armenian and Crusader. :mad:

[aray]

I dont know why anyone would defend the process that is going on in Yerevan right now.
Any impetus this is giving to the economy in general is going tenfold into the pockets of Kocharian and Sarkissian and the diasporans and Persians that had the money to pay them and the city authorities off. these kerac xemats shanvortik get fatter and fatter while poor old women are thrown out of their homes without even 1/2 of the compensation they are entitled to.

Noone here is saying that development is a bad thing, at least i hope noone is saying this, but the process is a$$fukking our normal society. We could have this and so much more for our beautiful country if we could just all unite and start giving a crap about corruption and these bastards sucking the blood and life out of our country. Yes the country is moving ahead, but Armenia could be moving ahead 10 steps instead of one if the fat bastards werent terrorizing and pillaging our potential.

Stop stupidly fighting each other and lets recognize the "elephant in the room". our country is mired in corruption and by ignoring it to create a nice facade for our nation we are only slowing ourselves down and letting those bastards that dare make a profit at the peoples expense get richer and richer and more powerful.

Well, if you like the development process then you should realize that somebody going to get reach out of it. That’s the way it works everywhere.

Of course corruption exists; name me a government of the country that is not corrupted. We need to realize that our county got independence from soviets not too long ago and corruption that we have inherited is not going to go away overnight. The progress is obvious.

Hishumes Levoni ev Vanoi jhamanakner@? Irar spanumein ekamutaber gortsery hamar, shat mardkanc Hayastanic durs arecin. Hima hayutyun@ veradarma Hayastan.

[TigranJamharian]

Well, if you like the development process then you should realize that somebody going to get reach out of it. That’s the way it works everywhere.

Of course corruption exists; name me a government of the country that is not corrupted. We need to realize that our county got independence from soviets not too long ago and corruption that we have inherited is not going to go away overnight. The progress is obvious.

Hishumes Levoni ev Vanoi jhamanakner@? Irar spanumein ekamutaber gortsery hamar, shat mardkanc Hayastanic durs arecin. Hima hayutyun@ veradarma Hayastan.

Just because corruption might have been a bit worse before and is prevalent in other countries doesnt mean its ok. If we just sit there and not give a crap and hope everything will get better nothing will. Yes there is corruption elsewhere, no it is usually not as bad as in Armenia.

Why is everyone going to great lenghts to defend these officials and this process. What the hell have they ever done for you? If anyone thinks Armenia's welfare has been this administration's top priority they are sadly mistaken.

[crusader1492]

Tigran,

No one is defending corruption...it is evil. You are sitting back and chided posters for liking what they see (i.e contraction/revitalization) in Yerevan. What I'm trying to say is be part of the solution to end corruption. Posting rebukes to Yerevan's contraction boom serves no purpose.

PS, before yo say "what are YOU doing about the problem"...well, I'm moving to Yerevan and I'm going to do my best to change the lackadaisical attitude concerning corruption among the public. The more diasporans Armenians who do this, the better...things will get better.

[Vlad_Arm]

Destruction of historical places as some said.... huh? Could you please repeat that? I lived in Yerevan and have never been in the "historical" places where the North Avenue is being built now.... It was like a getto. And I know couple of families (personally) who got VERY GOOD APARTMENTS with a luxury modeling, so I'd ask people not to complain. They got a nice apartments instead of their old, old, old shelters. Those who have been living in that area were so poor (90% of them) that they even couldn't do the smallest remodeling in their homes, and now they've got cool appartments. And talking about living in the center... C'mon guys, from every point in yerevan you can get to center in maximum 30 minutes... so let's not speak about it.

[bell-the-cat]

Destruction of historical places as some said.... huh? Could you please repeat that? I lived in Yerevan and have never been in the "historical" places where the North Avenue is being built now.... It was like a getto. And I know couple of families (personally) who got VERY GOOD APARTMENTS with a luxury modeling, so I'd ask people not to complain. They got a nice apartments instead of their old, old, old shelters. Those who have been living in that area were so poor (90% of them) that they even couldn't do the smallest remodeling in their homes, and now they've got cool appartments. And talking about living in the center... C'mon guys, from every point in yerevan you can get to center in maximum 30 minutes... so let's not speak about it.
If it was a ghetto then it was because it was allowed to become a ghetto. And it was allowed to become a ghetto so that it could be more easily demolished.
You are half a century out of date in your thinking. Modern urban planning recognises that, in order to have a healthy urban environment, it is vital to have ordinary people living in the hearts of cities and not just commuting there from the suburbs.

[Armenian]

Destruction of historical places as some said.... huh? Could you please repeat that? I lived in Yerevan and have never been in the "historical" places where the North Avenue is being built now.... It was like a getto. And I know couple of families (personally) who got VERY GOOD APARTMENTS with a luxury modeling, so I'd ask people not to complain. They got a nice apartments instead of their old, old, old shelters. Those who have been living in that area were so poor (90% of them) that they even couldn't do the smallest remodeling in their homes, and now they've got cool appartments. And talking about living in the center... C'mon guys, from every point in yerevan you can get to center in maximum 30 minutes... so let's not speak about it.

Excellent commentary Vlad, its good to see that logic prevails amongst some members here. As we all know, Yerevan is going through a natural evolution that befalls all major cities worldwide. The modernization of Yerevan is essential for the development of turism and the economy.

We Armenians are a weird bunch indeed:

We want perfection, we want everything, and we want it NOW. And we are all pissed-off because we could not have it yesterday.

No wonder we have been known as unruly throughout history.

I for one am very glad that the slums are being torn down because I will need plenty of space in Yerevan to park my Hummer, and my BMW, the ones that Catman here says I own. Not to mention the Hummers and the BMWs of all my leather clad goon friends.

Catman, please go and meoooooooooow elsewhere, your begining to stink up this place :laugh:

[TomServo]

We want perfection, we want everything, and we want it NOW. And we are all pissed-off because we could not have it yesterday.
http://www.codehappy.net/mimage/wonka007.jpg

[Iran Forever]

Crusader, I am so anxious to go to Yerevan some day! I just got back from Tbilisi two months ago, and I fell in love with it! I love Georgian food too.