ANOTHER ARCHITECTURAL MONUMENT IS DESTROYED IN CENTER OF YEREVAN THANKS TO YERVAND ZAKHARIAN AND MELIK GASPARIAN
By Ruzan Poghosian

AZG Armenian Daily
14/03/2006

Another historical-cultural monument – Amiryan 4/16 building – is
being destroyed thanks to the heroic efforts of Yervand Zakharian
and former deputy Melik Gasparian.

The building was included in the list of historical-cultural
monuments. And it turned out that the building lost its
historical-architectural value and was ruined in a night, after
Samvel Danielian, chief architect of Yerevan, called it an old,
rotten edifice meant that is to be destroyed.

Till mid-February, Lyudmila Harutyunian, public figure, owner of the
building, cherished hopes that the edifice will not be destroyed. But
everything turned upside down, when the court officials visited her
with the order to accept two agreement alternatives: either to get
$150 thousand of compensation or get a new flat in the block of flats
that is to be built on the place of the old edifice.

“We had to chose the second option and stop the struggle. I am
thankful both to the journalists and to the publicity that joined
me in my struggle for the building. Unfortunately, I should state
that another historical monument of 19th century is destroyed in
Yerevan. We have only photos of the edifice and our indignation with
the fact,” Harutyunian stated. She wanted to know who is interested
in this cultural genocide, who estimates the historical value of the
monument. “Who represents the state in Armenia. Our society lost the
struggle, as all the talks are faceless. I guess only officials are
powerful, as they define the fate of the buildings,” She expressed
concern.

“I wish this building were the last historical-cultural monument that
was destroyed in the center of Yerevan,” Lyudmila Harutyunian said
in the interview to Azg.