KAREN GEVORGIAN: THE STRUGGLE AGAINST TRADE IN STREETS IS ENDLESS
By Ara Martirosian

AZG Armenian Daily
06/09/2006

Karen Gevorgian, head of the Trade Department at the Yerevan City
Mayor’s Office, stated that they constantly struggle against the
illegal trade in the streets but they fail to totally improve the
situation. In the course of the yesterday’s press conference, he said
that they will manage to get rid of the illegal trade in the streets
only when there is no demand for that. He called for the Yerevan
residents to give up buying goods from the streets.

According to Karen Gevorgian, they have begun the program of
modernization of the trade kiosks in the Tigran Mets and Komitas
Streets. These measures will help secure hygienic and sanitary
conditions. The department has removed 48 illegal kiosks from Komitas
Avenue.

As for the complaints concerning the loud music coming out of the night
bars and cafes, Gevorgian stated that two restaurants, particularly
"Geghama" and "Parvana" had to pay AMD 25-30 thousand of penalty
for that.

Earlier the given penalty amounted to AMD 1000 that was no big problem
for the restaurants, as well.

Gevorgian also touched upon the sale and display of funeral items. He
stated that the law prohibits the slae and display of funeral items
in the city streets.

While there are several streets in Yerevan that are totally occupied
with kiosks and shops for funeral items, including coffins and wreaths,
etc. Gevorgian added that the city administration suggests allocating
a special place for that purpose out of the town. He said that for
instance, 80% of the catafalques have no permission to work. He
emphasized that the city administration will soon submit suggestions
to the government in this issue, too.