ARCHITECTS IN ARMENIA PROTEST DESTRUCTION OF HISTORIC YEREVAN... CITE HRAIR HOVNANIAN'S PLANS TO REDESIGN PRE-SOVIET BUILDING AS CASE IN POINT

In a joint appeal to Prime Minister Andranik Markarian , a group of influential architects of Armenia, have called for the government's "immediate intervention" in what they see as the illegal destruction of the country's historical and cultural legacy.

The architects cite a dozen pre-Soviet buildings that have already been razed by private developers despite the fact that they were included in a list of architectural edifices to be protected by the government during the recent redevelopment of sections of central Yerevan.

Varazdat Harutiunian, a longstanding member of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences, draws attention to the recent sale by the government of a pre-Soviet building to American-Armenian millionaire and Armenian Assembly founder Hrair Hovnanian. The building, which dates back to 1905, once housed the government of the First Armenian Republic (1918-1920).

Mr. Hovnanian plans to radically redesign the building by adding two stories and will only preserve the ornate facade. The new edifice will house the Yerevan office of the Armenian Assembly.

**** If you agree with this group of Armenian architects and with other concerned citizens that the tide of private development needs to be regulated in a fair and equitable manner in order that SOMETHING of pre-Soviet Yerevan remains... YOU CAN E-MAIL THESE INDIVIDUALS AND VOICE YOUR CONCERNS !!!!!

1) Arpi Vartanian , Yerevan Office Director of Armenian Assembly:

centoff@arminco.com

2) Bryan Ardouny, Armenian Assembly Executive Director, Washington, D.C.:

info@aaainc.org