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  • Take 2: Waving White Flags, Protesting Homeowners Try To Deliver The

    TAKE 2: WAVING WHITE FLAGS, PROTESTING HOMEOWNERS TRY TO DELIVER THEIR LETTER TO PRESIDENT

    epress.am
    01.31.2012

    Homeowners promised apartments in the new buildings constructed on
    Aram, Buzand, Yekmalyan and Saryan streets were out again demonstrating
    on the corner of Baghramyan and Demirchyan streets - this time,
    they came waving white flags in the hope that this might catch the
    president's attention as he drives by on his way to work.

    "After yesterday's unsuccessful attempt, we came more prepared today.

    The white flags attached to our umbrellas perhaps will draw attention
    and the president will notice us," one participant, Sona Maghakyan,
    told Epress.am.

    Seeing the president's motorcade, demonstrators waved their white
    flags and the letter they want to give to him personally, shouting
    "President, answer!" However, like yesterday, so too today, the
    motorcade drove past without stopping.

    Later, Aida Asatryan, head of the desk for receiving citizens,
    proposals, appeals and claims at the president's office, approached
    demonstrators and urged them to give their letter to her, but they
    refused.

    "No way - we trust no one and we don't want to give a letter through
    an intermediary. This is the umpteenth time we've delivered a letter
    and have not received an answer, neither written nor verbal. If today
    [assistant to the president Armen] Abelyan troubles himself to come
    down [i.e. outside], I'll give him the letter," said Maghakyan.

    Recall, yesterday demonstrators refused to hand over the letter to
    Abelyan when he approached them.

    Later, demonstrators moved from the intersection to across the
    street from the president's office, where they were approached by
    Armen Abelyan. They spoke, after which the homeowners asked him to
    personally deliver their letter to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.

    Abelyan assured demonstrators that the president was aware of their
    concerns and has instructed the Presidential Oversight (Control)
    Service to look into resolving the matter.

    The homeowners objected, requesting a meeting with the president
    personally; however, Abelyan assured them that Oversight Service
    staff will contact them in the coming days to schedule a meeting.

    Recall, in 2006, the residents (whose apartments were recognized
    as public priority interest) agreed to leave their homes on the
    condition that they would be given apartments in the new buildings
    to be constructed on the same site. For this they signed an agreement
    with a developer by the name of Gagik Papoyan, but the residents still
    haven't received their new apartments - in fact, the units have been
    resold to third parties.

    Late last year, Armenia's Special Investigation Service (SIS) launched
    a criminal case against Papoyan, but he cannot be found. The homeowners
    say the SIS informed them that that the case could take months as
    hundreds of people have to be questioned in connection with the case.




    From: A. Papazian
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