Gyumri: Ministry of Culture in exchange for cultural values

In an interview with Tert.am, President of the journalists’ club Asparez and member of the Gyumri Council of Elders Levon Barseghyan commented on the talks about the transfer of Armenia’s Ministry of Culture to Gyumri, as well as on the events under the Gyumri CIS Cultural Capital 2013 project.
 
On October 13, in Gyumri, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan announced the planned transfer of Armenia’s Ministry of Culture to Gyumri.

Mr Barseghyan welcomes the idea of decentralization as such, but does not take the government’s promises seriously.

“I have grounds for saying it. Under the government decision, cultural values are transferred to Yerevan to never be returned to Gyumri. At the same time, they want to transfer the Ministry of Culture to Gyumri. I cannot understand that. If the premier states that, along with Minister Hasmik Poghosyan, he will send back Minas’ frescos and khachkars [cross-stones] that were taken to Yerevan from different Armenian regions, I would think of anything good. The transfer of the Ministry of Culture to Gyumri is a rather expensive measure,” he said.

The transfer of any ministry is of no strategic importance.

“If we follow this logic, we should transfer the National Security Service to Goris. I would understand if the Constitutional Court were located in Gyumri. But transferring different ministries to different Armenian regions will certainly create technical problems to the government. To participate in the cabinet meetings Minister Hasmik Poghosyan, as well as the heads of a number of departments, will have to go to Yerevan every day,” Barseghyan said.

With respect to the benefits of the Gyumri CIS Cultural Capital 2013 project, he said that the project was not properly implemented, and numerous events failed.

“The project will be completed in mid-November. The government allocated a total of 192 million drams for the project. The Yerevan Day celebrations cost 200 million drams. Just compare: 200 million drams for a day and 192 million drams for an eight-month program in Gyumri. We have not seen any special attention on the authorities’ part,” Barseghyan said.

With respect to failed events, he pointed out a number of reasons, including financing.

“For example, the CIS intellectual festival never took place. After the program has been completed, we will release a list of the failed events.”