Representatives of UNESCO began their visit to Gyumri. They are examining the historical city’s structures, architecture, and its buildings’ seismic resistance. They went to the Dzitoghtsyan Museum of National Architecture and learned about the city’s history and the daily lives of its residents. “I believe that Gyumri is a city with a rich cultural heritage,” said Chief of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit for the Culture Sector of UNESCO Giovanni Boccardi.
The mayor of Gyumri, Samvel Balasanyan, asked Boccardi how long it will take for UNESCO to prepare a seismic resistance safety package for Gyumri, as there are 1,200 historical buildings in the city that were damaged by the Spitak earthquake. The UNESCO representative said that it will take until 2022. “Even if it happens four years later, let Gyumri become a UNESCO city,” Balasanyan said.
