MORE GREEN SPACE

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
27 Feb 05

The recent structural changes in the government, particularly the
creation of a separate ministry of city building, show that town
building has become a priority in the development of the country. The
post-war peace, even in the neither war, nor peace situation, is
gathering momentum. The country is reconstructed. Of course, mainly
owing to the tremendous help of the Diaspora; on the means provided
by the Armenian Diaspora roads, schools, medical institutions, houses
and irrigation systems are built. Besides, the government has also
begun investing large sums in this sphere. This year the state budget
provided 5.5 billion drams which exceeds the sum provided last year
1.5 times. The new ministry is headed by Boris Alaverdian who has
experience of engineer and economist and headed the former Ministry
of Development of Industrial Infrastructures and Building since
June 2004. What is the reason for creating a separate ministry,
what is the range of activity of the new structure and which are
its priorities? Minister Boris ALAVERDIAN answered this and other
questions. â~@~S This kind of attention of the government towards
building is dictated by the requirements of life and by the fact
that our state is becoming steadier and stronger. The structural
changes which resulted in the separate ministry of town building
also affected the internal structure. Particularly a new department
for policy of town building and architecture was established. Now a
thorough selection of high-quality specialists is carried out because
this department will work out the policies of the ministry. Besides,
the powers of the supervision bodies will be widened, which will
hopefully have a positive impact on the quality of building in the
country. Since last year all the building sites are controlled
by the ministry. After the separation of the ministry our work
became more specialized, which, I am sure, will be beneficial for
our activity. â~@~S Could you enumerate the present priorities of
the ministry? â~@~S First about the capital. The government intends
to expand the green area in the town. The people of the town feel
suffocated by the density of buildings. The town was smaller before
but it had several parks. Today there is only one park. This year
we shall expand the green area in the capital. As to the rest
of the republic, the activity of the ministry will be directed at
providing every village in Karabakh with comfortable buildings for the
village council, school and club. â~@~S What do you mean when you say
â~@~a comfortable buildingâ~@~]? â~@~S I mean conditions for normal
operation of the village council. Reconstruction works, building of
administrative, cultural buildings is planned. In village schools
boilers will be installed for central heating, problems of water
supply will be solved. The problem of electric power supply has been
almost solved. Only several villages in the regions of Kashatagh and
Shahumian do not have electricity. The next problem if gasification of
the country. In the coming year it is planned to complete gasification
of the towns of Stepanakert, Martuni and Shushi. This year gasification
of the region of Hadrut will begin at last. In the coming years we plan
to complete the program of gasification of the whole country. In the
coming years we also plan to complete the state program of providing
families of the killed and disabled soldiers with flats. â~@~S Last
year the architectural council under the Ministry of Industrial
Infrastructures and Building was dissolved, and its functions were
shared by the architectural council of the ministry and the local
governments. What was the reason for this change, and wonâ~@~Yt this
impact the efficiency of the council? As the architectural potential
is concentrated in the capital, how competent will the decision
of the architectural council of the city hall of Hadrut or Shushi
be if there is not a single architect in the council? By the way,
the architects think that in the case of Shushi the situation is
simply deplorable. â~@~S Yes, last year we did that in order for the
local bodies to be assessed by the competent body. This was done to
increase the responsibility of the local architectural and building
services. This mechanism, however, proved ineffective. Probably,
it is necessary to reconsider the former decision and seek for
positive results. â~@~S Mr. Minister, is the esthetic aspect
taken into consideration during competitions for engineering or
reconstructing valuable architectural monuments? â~@~S Of course, we
set such requirements during competitions for individual projects. I
can enumerate several examples: the projects of the buildings of the
museum of local lore, National Assembly, the republic library included
quite interesting architectural solutions. We set such demands before
projects of administrative and cultural buildings. And in the question
of reconstruction of Shushi we set special requirements. I know that
there is no architect in the architectural council under the Shushi
City Hall. However, I think, the problem can be solved; we may invite
architects from abroad, and solve the problems adequately. Recognizing
the importance of the issue we undertake other steps: we enable the
private sector to implement their programs at the condition that
their works be controlled by us.

SUSANNA BALAYAN. 27-02-2005

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