Armenian leader criticizes mayor for illegal construction in Yerevan
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
21 Jan 05
[Presenter] The president of our republic [Robert Kocharyan] has told
a meeting at the Yerevan mayor’s office that some problems have been
properly resolved since they were discussed last year. However, he
added, the mayor’s office has not done enough to resolve some other
problems. The president said serious efforts should be made to
eliminate the shortcomings registered last year. Summing up the work
done in 2004, the city mayor reported to Kocharyan about the work to
be done in 2005.
[Correspondent] During the traditional meeting held at the mayor’s
office, the republic’s president drew attention to the problems that
were not resolved last year.
[Kocharyan] First, I would like to talk about the quality of the work
the staff of the mayor’s office have carried out. I am talking about
the work that has been done with the people and about timely reaction
to their petitions and complaints. The mayor says that they are
working in line with the rules we have defined. However, I am sure
that today, the quality of our work is not so high as it should have
been. We have not been able to achieve good results because of last
year’s shortcomings. Perhaps, we have even taken some steps back. It
means that we should seriously focus on these issues this year.
[Correspondent] Another basic issue noted by the head of state was
related to illegal construction. The president said that the fight
against this is going on very slowly.
[Kocharyan] The construction of private buildings on the pavements is
still continuing. In fact, we are directing our citizens from the
pavements towards the carriageway. It is not difficult to see these
cases at any time. Who has given this right to our mayor’s office and
local executive authorities? I am sure that anyone who has even little
respect for the city and people should not allow this to happen. I and
the mayor have repeatedly driven through the streets of the city in
another car without bodyguards. This has already become a
tradition. They mayor was feeling very bad when we drove through some
streets of the city. He was simply feeling ashamed. Is that right, Mr
Zakaryan? This applies especially to the points of entry and suburbs
of the city. In the city centre, this issue is more or less in
order. My supervisory service will take care of these issues.
[Correspondent] One of the ways to prevent illegal construction work,
the president said, is citizens’ attitude. The best way of protesting
against tasteless and dirty petrol stations and kiosks on the
pavements is not to use them. The head of state thinks that it is
necessary to use various solutions in order to prevent illegal
construction work.
[Kocharyan] It is necessary to bulldoze these buildings in the city
centre regardless of who they belong to. I should say that they are
not building them on their own, they start building them after getting
someone’s verbal consent. Some of the illegal buildings appear
because if they act according to the law, they will take 1.5-2 years
to put all papers in order.
[Correspondent] The head of state also said that it is important to
ensure the transparent work of the mayor’s office. He noted that he is
receiving complaints about the mayor’s office refusing to present
copies of its decisions.
[Kocharyan] The mayor’s office should not engage in secret
activities. What is the problem that our citizens and public
organizations cannot get a copy of a decision? It does not matter if
this decision applies to them or not. I have familiarized myself with
your programmes for 2005 and these programmes contain no such
point. That’s why bear in mind that you’ll have to work on the basis
of this mechanism in 2005.
[Correspondent] The president demanded transparency during land
auctions. He noted that there is distrust among the public in this
sphere.
[Passage omitted: The meeting also discussed other issues]