Within the frames of “Erebuni-Yerevan 2796” celebration the international conference “Yerevan 2025” called “The old city-new perspectives” has started in the National Gallery of Armenia. Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan, ministers, other members of government, NA deputies, representatives of the official delegations arrived in Yerevan to take part in “Erebuni-Yerevan 2796”, numerous guests were present at the ceremony of opening. In his greeting speech addressed to the participants of the conference the Mayor thanked them for accepting the invitation to take part in the conference and stressed that like other capitals of the world Yerevan is the financial, social, transport, scientific , educational and historical-archaeological center of the country and this fact makes the city authorities to work out the conception of the future city the implementation of which will provide high quality of life and activity for the residents, promote economic, social, infrastructure stability and regular development, as well as will guarantee the diversity of the city environment and preservation of the historical and cultural potential.

“One of our primary aims is to make the city environment serve the population. The streets, buildings, yards,playgrounds, green areas are not only living areas but also the live environment where traditions, common benefits are formed. To achieve this aim large-scale activities have been carried out in the recent years. I’d particularly separate the creation of yard areas. Today we can state that more than 40 % of previously badly-arranged yards have been improved in the recent three years. The asphalting and lighting activities in the yard areas are of unprecedented volumes. I’d like to stress that the main part of the yards didn’t use to be lit even in the Soviet years. It should be noted that as a result of the policy of proportional development of the capital adopted by the city authorities the difference between the real estate in the center and in the outskirts has decreased making the prices of the property in remote parts higher. Though the problem of preservation of the living fund is within the liabilities of condominiums and the bodies of management of blocks of flats the Municipality keep the problem at the focus of attention and carries out large-scale activities to provide longevity to the blocks of flats. As a result of effective cooperation between Yerevan community and the state the residents of the blocks of flats of the 4th grade of emergency rate are gradually being provided with new flats. I can state that in 2015 the problem of such buildings inventoried up to now will have been completely solved. Large-scale activities are being carried out in the direction of street repairing. And all the activities are being carried out in all administrative districts. I think that the improvement of the external design of the capital is also visible. A special style is being formed in Yerevan which is highly appreciated by the residents and the guests of the city. Our capital has become more comfortable. One of the greatest problems of the social sphere is the problem of the disabled, the availability of the city environment for them. We are obliged to create proper conditions for them.This problem didn’t use to be at the focus of attention of the former Soviet authorities, se we are carrying out these activities from the very beginning. Since 2003 we have started the activities aimed at the regulation of the problem of availability for the people with disabilities cooperating with the state bodies, private sector and NGOs. I am sure that in the nearest future we will achieve noticeable progress in the spheres of urban development, transport, health care, education, culture and sport. The details of these programs will be presented during the conference too:, said the Mayor. He added that there is still a lot to be done. The Mayor also stressed the problem of increasing green areas in the capital. “Only within the last three years the areas of newly-created or reconstructed parks has increased by 22 hectares. Certain activities are being carried out towards restoration of the buff zones of the capital. We have also increased the irrigation network which are necessary for green areas. In the context of nature protection we should note waste removal and sanitary cleaning. A primary task of the city authorities is also to work out a comlex program for recycling and we are going to speak about it during the conference”, said the Mayor.

Presenting the road construction programs carried out in the capital within the recent years Mayor Taron Margaryan stressed that the activities aimed at the construction of new bypass roads will be long lasting.

“ With the aim of traffic relief in the capital we are carrying out certain programs of road network increase. I’d like state proudly that within the recent 2 years we put into operation the road connecting Ulnetsi and Rubinyants streets, the highway connecting Isakov avenue with Leningradyan street and we have already designed the road connecting the other segment of the highway connecting Isakov avenue and Arshakunyats street by the bridge over the Hrazdan river. I’d like to stress the effective cooperation of the Municipality of Yerevan with various international institutions due to the support of which the programs of strategic significance for the capital have been implemented: the investment programs of the construction of a new motorway anticipated by the General plan of the city, modernization of the Metro, water supply and wastewater discharge, construction of the cleaning station at “Aeratia”. The capital has achievements in the spheres of water and gas supply.We have been able to improve the rates in the sphere in comparison with the soviet period and the 2000s. We realize that the rich historical and cultural heritage of Yerevan is a big potential for tourism development. We are working actively at making the capital more attractive for tourists and investors. The growth of the entities engaged in the sphere of tourism (construction of hotels, the Internet network increase and so on) witnesses about the favourable investment environment in the capital. The problems and perspectives of this sphere will also be presented during the conference. However we are not going to stop working for the sake of the future Yerevan and this is the reason why we have gathered today to listen to each other and to exchange experience-for the sake of the future of our 2796-year-old capital”, stressed the Mayor and wished the participants of the conference fruitful work.

During the conference the reporters will present the conception of Yerevan, the approaches and perspectives of development of the city of Yerevan.

Information and Public Relations Department
of the City Hall of Yerevan