Hovik Charkhchyan, literary critic: Old Yerevan or ''Old Yerevan''
''''Old Yerevan'' project involves theatrical decoration, artificial furniture, visual illusion, which have nothing common with reality. The historical layer of the town is not invented by anybody. It either exists or does not. There was unique and beautiful old Yerevan, which has gone away now. And it is not ethical and honest to try to hide this absence by creating a portrait from ruins. For instance, when we speak about a book we mean its content, not the cover. The same situation is with the ''Old Yerevan'' project. It is merely a cover, not the content of the book. Its colorful packaging hides the barbarism. The history should be kept in the environment in which it was created. It is an indisputable practice all over the world. Archeologists and art experts would confirm my words that no stone should be moved from the historical monument.
The assumption that the old contradicts to the new is pathogenous. The new should not destroy the old.
The historic building can exist with full harmony with the new ones, like it is in the families where the old man and the child live peacefully in one family''.
According to the third point of the RA Government’s 1227-A decision made on November 6, 2014, minister of Urban Development was delegated to ensure the implementation of the construction of the ''Old Yerevan'' complex in the enclosed areas of Yerevan's Main Avenue, Abovyan, Paustos Byzand, Eznik Koghbaci and Arami streets. The author and the architect of the ''Old Yerevan'' project is Levon Vardanyan. The project involves 30 monuments. On behalf of the RA government , Narek Sargsyan, RA Minister of Urban Development, has signed an agreement with Gevorg Machanyan, who represents Swiss investor Vardan Sirmakes, ''Multi continental Distribution'' Ltd., on the construction of the ''Old Yerevan'' investment project. Preliminary calculations show that $120-150 millions are needed for the project implementation. Project's deadline is 5 years. It is stated that the extensive activities will be launched this year.
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