HAYASTAN ALL-ARMENIAN FUND BEGINS RESTORATION OF TWO THOROUGHFARES OF SHUSHI

Noyan Tapan
March 25, 2010

YEREVAN, MARCH 25, NOYAN TAPAN. With its recently initiated
reconstruction of the Garegin Nzhdeh and Alec Manoogian streets,
Shushi’s two main thoroughfares, the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund has
begun to restore the city’s economic and social infrastructures. The
street-revitalization project is being realized through contributions
made by the Russian-Armenian community during Telethon 2009.

According to Fund’s press release, following the construction
of sewage, water-delivery, and drainage systems, the streets and
sidewalks (about 950 meters) will be paved and furbish, and light
posts will be installed throughout. The project will be completed
with the installation of 1.5-meter-wide lawns separating the streets
from the sidewalks.

"People of Shushi no longer believed that things would turn to the
better in their city. These streets in particular had long fallen
into disrepair. There is a great deal of bustle in this part of town.

Residents frequently use the telephone station and the bank or visit
the cultural center, whereas up till now the streets remained in
a terrible state", said Grigori Avanesyan, director of the Shushi
Administration’s Urban Development and Architecture Department. In the
Alec Manoogian Street is home to the fire station and the much-visited,
1847-built Hovhannes Mkrtich Church, better known as the Green Church
because of the color of its dome.

"This year our main goal is to implement a number of projects aimed
at helping Shushi stand on its feet; I hope that our revitalization
efforts will go a long way in strengthening Shushi residents’ bond
with their city, and not be limited to the Fund initiatives only", said
Ara Vardanyan, executive director of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund.