www.aravot.am inquired of Vache Gabrielyan, the Minister of Finance, today what he would think, if the building of his ministry was also sold.
Let us remind that today Arman Sahakyan, the head of the State Property Management Department, talking about selling the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during a press conference said, “I clearly answer – if, for example, there is a good and attractive offer regarding the building of the Ministry of Transport, which will be in the interests of our state, such issues will be discussed.”
In Vache Gabrielyan’s words, “Arman Sahakyan carries out the right policy.” We asked to clarify whether one could sell any building, if there was someone who would pay a good price, the minister said, “Any building? No, if it is a historic and cultural value. If it is not on that list, it can be done and it is the side of the issue, for which the State Property Management Department is responsible. If I am not mistaken, the building of the Ministry of Finance, along with the Government Building, as well as the building of the National Gallery, is a historic and cultural value; that is the reason why it will not be affected. And in my opinion, the building of the Ministry of Transport is not a historic and cultural value. If a building is not a historic and cultural value – I define the principle – in that case, if it is beneficial for the state, if it carries out a project, which it couldn’t have carried out otherwise, one should do that. If it doesn’t correspond to that criterion, one shouldn’t do that.”
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In response to our question whether it was normal that these old, dear buildings would become hotels, they might be transformed, whether he looked at it only from the business perspective, Vache Gabrielyan said, “In terms of transformation, I don’t agree and I don’t think that anyone can transform it. And, say, the interior, if we have Armenia in the same square, which is also not for transformation, I don’t think that the appearance of the square will change because of that. It should function so that the general architectural appearance is not changed.”
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
