GYUMRI, DECEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS:

December 7 has become a day of not only commemorating the victims of the devastating earthquake but also a day of assessing the passed way. In an interview to Armenpress Mayor of Gyumri Vardan Ghukasyan presented the works implemented in the city and the coming activity.

- Mr Ghukasyan, what restoration works have been carried out in Gyumri during these 23 years?

- I can state that the apartment construction works have already been completed. The issue of homeless has been solved by 90%. I think the issue of homeless people will be completely solved in 2012. The works are evident. During these two years a huge district was built here. It is a great work especially in crisis conditions. Thank’s God, the issue is being solved.

- Which is the other prior issue of the city?

- Of course, the next one is the issue of jobs. Before 1988 more than 90 thousand workers were working in Leninakan. Today this issue is the most urgent in our province as compared with other provinces. The municipality has promoted the activity of small and medium-sized businesses and during the past seven years construction amounting to 80 billion AMD is being carried out, but it is not the way to save the city in case when the majority of investments during the recent years have been made in Yerevan.

- What is necessary for the solution of the issue?

- I think there must be a free economic zone. People in Gyumri do not have much sum to build huge factories. Unfortunately, in 90s during the privatization process many factories were destroyed, and the property was sold. In case when from 1988 only meat factory of Leninakan could keep the city. There must be a state approach, facilitation of tax burden, without it no investments will be made no matter what convenient field there will be.

- Is it easy to head the most problematic town?

- I cannot say that it is easy, but it is important that people love and when they see that you love and serve your people, you are being assessed and the work is being facilitated.

- Do you consider the restoration of industrial potential of Gyumri realistic?

- I have no right to doubt it. People of Gyumri are hard working, creative people. I know that time will come for Gyumri to re-find its place as a second largest city of Armenia.

- Mr Ghukasyan, you are heading the city for 13 years. Which year was the most effective from the point of view of solution of the issues? Give your assessment of these years.

- During the presidency of Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan a wide-scale construction was initiated. Works with the funds of the “Lincy” Foundation were undertaken. Now as well wide scale apartment construction works are being implemented with the state budget means. These were the most important years. As the biggest achievement of the passed years I may note the trust of people. If during the first years of my office there was no hope and belief among people of Gyumri, now we managed to restore this hope and prove that investments may be made in Gyumri as well. There is no gap between people and Gyumri’s municipality. We have managed to overcome it.