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Community consolidation has significantly boosted activity in the towns and villages neighboring Kapan in Armenia's southern Syunik province.
First Deputy Mayor of Kapan Municipality Gor Tadevosyan made the remarks at a press briefing for journalists visiting Syunik accompanied by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
He noted that small rural settlements have undoubtedly benefited from the municipal merger, as previously, when they were considered separate administrative units, they did not have sufficient budgets to address major infrastructure development issues, whereas today the situation has changed favorably.
“Syunik Province, and Kapan city in particular, have already become one of the main tourist destinations today. We feel and see this movement. A large flow of tourists has been observed especially over the past three to four years. It is encouraging that not only our compatriots but also foreigners are arriving in Kapan. Mount Khustup has become one of the symbols of our city. Our policy aims to make the picturesque and historical-cultural sites of Syunik more recognizable to all visitors. The hotel business has been developing significantly recently, which we encourage,” Tadevosyan said.
Referring to cooperation with the ICRC, Tadevosyan noted that over the past 5–6 years, the enlarged Kapan community has implemented a number of programs with the organization, mainly related to the population’s socio-economic issues, agricultural development and improvement of housing conditions.
According to Tadevosyan, the agricultural and healthcare programs implemented in the communities are also very important because they were carried out in the post-war period, particularly in the border rural settlements of the Kapan community, which was entirely appropriate. Residents of around 15 border rural settlements and some neighborhoods of Kapan city were included in these programs and became beneficiaries.
Within the framework of socio-economic livelihood programs, for example, support was provided to border settlements to prepare for winter and address existing problems. The funds provided for this purpose undoubtedly helped people overcome difficulties, particularly in the post-war period.
“We also attach importance to programs aimed at improving housing conditions, which, for example, have benefited residents of Chakaten and Davit Bek villages. Important programs have also been implemented in agriculture, which are more promising and long-term. This primarily concerns land reclamation, as a result of which degraded lands have become arable and can now be provided to farmers. Elite seeds have been allocated to residents of rural settlements, ensuring high productivity and good yields. The provision of agricultural machinery, particularly tractors and attached equipment, was especially valuable, as it will make it possible to support farms in all villages and ensure long-term results,” Tadevosyan said.
In Yeghvard village, the ICRC supported the local population by providing drinking water pipeline equipment and installing wells. In a number of places, agricultural development training courses were organized, giving farmers the opportunity to engage in efficient agriculture in the future. According to Tadevosyan, the large-scale work carried out over the past 5–6 years is particularly important from the perspective of preserving rural communities, so that residents would not leave the border settlements.
“As a result of the policy pursued by the enlarged Kapan community and cooperation with our partners at the International Committee of the Red Cross, it has become possible to ensure such conditions that border villages do not become depopulated. After the war, there was concern that people would leave their native homes, but fortunately, this did not happen. There is normal movement of people, but no large-scale emigration has been recorded. In general, much has changed since the war. There are territories in Nerkin Hand and Davit Bek in the Kapan municipality occupied by the Azerbaijani armed forces. We hope that as a result of delimitation and demarcation, they will be returned to the Armenian side,” he said.
He paid great attention to the infrastructure development of rural communities. Accordingly, in recent years, extensive work has been carried out on the construction of drinking and irrigation water pipelines and the asphalting of roads. Free transport services operate between Kapan community and the neighboring settlements. This also aims to maintain strong ties between the villages and Kapan.
Following the reopening of the airport, interest in the regional center has increased significantly, and it is now possible to reach Kapan from the capital in 40–45 minutes. The positive impact of the airport is evidenced by the fact that the number of flights and passengers has increased. The Kapan community authorities also consider the operation of international flights at the local airport important, especially since there is such potential. Of course, it is possible to organize flights from Iranian cities to Kapan and then to Yerevan and Georgia. Tadevosyan believes that this issue will be resolved in the future.
There has recently been much discussion about the possibility of the local airport, known as Syunik Airport, gaining international status and becoming Armenia’s third international airport, after Yerevan’s Zvartnots and Gyumri’s Shirak.
Small rural settlements have undoubtedly benefited from community consolidation because previously, when they were considered separate administrative units, they did not have sufficient budgets to address major infrastructure development issues. For example, Yeghvard village had a drinking water problem for years, but as a result of community consolidation, it became possible to resolve the issue through community funds. It is now possible to address the problems of small rural communities, which previously seemed impossible.
Although governance challenges increase with community consolidation, proper and effective management nevertheless makes it possible to support the aforementioned settlements in any matter. New-type administrative buildings have been constructed in several settlements, including offices for administrative employees, club-libraries and medical posts. This is possible only through the budgetary resources of the enlarged community.
Economic activity continues, with investments coming particularly from local investors. More activity is being observed in the construction and tourism sectors. New construction companies have opened, and new hotels and guesthouses have been built. People continue to apply to the municipality with such projects. The development of the mining industry is also added to this. Syunik is known to everyone in this regard. Three new apartment buildings have been constructed in Kapan. There is also high demand there, and the community is ready to support developers.
“We also closely cooperate with the Consulate of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as a result of which a number of programs have already been implemented, including expo-exhibitions of Iranian-made products. Businesses from the Kapan community have visited Iran to learn about the production and economic opportunities of the neighboring country. The activation of relations following the opening of the consulate is noticeable, at least at the level of our enlarged community,” the deputy mayor said.