‘For several years Narek Sargsyan has done what he liked’

“For several years, Narek Sargsyan has done what he liked. Open contests have been held, with anyone participating in such contests. The result is the current situation,” political engineer Karen Kocharian said at a meeting with journalists today, when discussing the open contest for the conceptual design of Republic Square.

K. Kocharian stressed the passive position of Yerevan municipality on this issue.

According to another participant of the meeting, architect Sashur Kalashian, Republic Square reconstruction contest as well as the processes related to the Foreign Ministry building and the Closed Market in the city are illegal. If another building is constructed in the square to ensure extra space, then it will become necessary to demolish the National Gallery and the architectural ensemble will be distorted.

The architect said that Republic Square is an important transport note. “The contest is inopportune. Firstly, it is necessary to develop a design and hold serious discussions. I am a member of the Architectural Commission, and we all have an impression that the issue was discussed, but no comments were made. The issue was discussed by the Architectural Commission, but it was not clarified. Narek Sargsyan always said that he is not ready and will introduce the issue later,” Kalashian noted.

In the words of Karen Kocharian, the only issue they want to solve is money laundering.
We should remind you that Yerevan Municipality has announced an architectural contest for the conceptual design of Republic Square in downtown Yerevan. The contest commission is headed by Yerevan’s Chief Architect Narek Sargsyan. The municipality said the commission will select the best designs aimed at improving the main architectural complex of the capital city and adapting it to the modern urban development process.