SEMINAR ON CE REGIONAL PROGRAM HELD IN YEREVAN
Support A1+!Armenian cities of Grumri, Ashtarak and Goris are included in the CE Regional Program for the Protection of the Cultural and Natural Heritage in the South-Caucasus focused on rehabilitation of architectural and natural heritage in the urban development policies.
In 2003 a program was signed between the CE Directorate of Culture and Cultural and Natural Heritage (DGIV) and Armenian environment and culture ministries to develop Armenian cities of historic significance.
The situation in Armenian cities and European experience in that area was presented Wednesday at a seminar held in Tekeyan Center in Yerevan.
“There is no need to invent something new. We can use existing mechanisms and schemes”, Armenian urban development minister’s assistant Ruzan Alaverdyan said speaking at the seminar.
She said everything should be done to preserve the sites’ peculiar features, their uniqueness.
The seminar participants noted this would help to attract tourists’ attention, but Ruzan Alaverdyan said, first of all, a harmonic environment should be created for locals.
She, however, found it difficult to say how much money is needed to put such a program into reality. The program will provide ideological mechanisms strategy and technical support rather than direct investments, she said. In her words, the program expects investments from Armenian private sector.
Three seminars with the CE experts’ participation are planned to be held in the nearest future to outline due activity.
Michael De Tizi, a CE representative, said the program implementation would mostly depend on Armenian government’s reforms.
