To Yeghia Nersisyan, an environmentalist, the pre-election promises of parties remind of the song “Dream” performed by Arevik Group at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2007. Talking about the RLP election program – the parts regarding urban planning, improvement and environment of Yerevan – during a conversation with www.aravot.am, Y. Nersisyan said: “When they talk about landscaping, ceasing construction in those areas, let someone behave like a man, go down to Opera and prevent the illegal building of Jazzve that is under way right now, and I will say good job. It will mean that someone is doing something. Then I will believe. Otherwise, words without deeds are lifeless.” The RLP also promises to adopt the new general plan of the city of Yerevan as a result of broad public and professional
discussion. We inquired of Y. Nersisyan what the new plan would change. “What plan are they talking about, when all numbered stones have been destroyed with heavy equipment, old buildings have been dismantled; there is no such thing as an old plan. They cannot build Old Yerevan. By the way, they were telling that same tail when we were struggling in Mashtots Park too.” Activist Gevorg Safaryan continued: “I would remind Artur Baghdasaryan that Yerevan has become a time bomb these days. Any minor earthquake will raze Yerevan with its old and new buildings to the ground. I think that the secretary of the security council should have thought about this and have done something about this already…, act as much as like, is it necessary to be in the city hall to act? Where have you been up to now…? I think the RLP is a garrulous force that makes such promises all the time.”
Arpine SIMONYAN
