President Sarkissian: View me as a resident of Gyumri and I want to purchase a home here in the nearest future

“It is time that we return to you the love, which we have been holding in our hearts for over 30 years, the warmth, care and the enormous esteem which we have for your patience, your dignity. It is time we all together rebuild this magnificent city, Spitak, Vanadzor and bring bacj life and joy here,” President Sarkissian said today in Gyumri responding to the questions of the journalists.

He noted that through these years, the residents of Gyumri, Spitak, and Vanadzor have been carrying patiently their load of difficulties, and waited probably for the day when we all together would be able to focus our attention on them.

“Yesterday I was lucky to listen to young Gyumretsis and rejoiced with all my heart. You have one thing which you have always had – great talent, love for the Fatherland, music and arts which Gyumri has always been famous for. It never was lost,” the President said.

Speaking of why it took 31 years to rebuild Gyumri, President Sarkissian noted that history shouldn’t be forgotten: in 1988, along with the great tragedy there was also the issue of Artsakh’s deliberation, building of a newly independent state, and our national liberation movement.

“1990-1991, the war, hardships, closed roads, a country with no army, with a young government which had to learn and to rule the country… The beginning was very difficult and all our compatriots, who lived here, at the northern part of Armenia, all these 31 years, who lost their relatives, friends, their homes, lived in domiks, in dire conditions, deserve commendation.

Even when they got an apartment, the city still was not lively because apartments are not everything in people’s lives, purchasing a home is not the end of everything if there is no job, if the ambiance is not there, if there is no joy, if there is no place where they can gather all together and spend their time. This city, Vanadzor, and Spitak had a spirit, had a spirit not 30 years ago but for centuries and it seemed that the spirit was frozen. Probably, we all have our share of guilt that at some point didn’t put more energy, time and love into Gyumri,” the President said. “Now I am the President of Armenia, there is a new government and, in general, I think our people have a new attitude towards our life and values. Now we all should to be responsible for bringing life back to this city. I am trying to explain to all our compatriots that Armenia is not just Yerevan. Armenia is our entire country.

I see my mission in bringing back to Gyumri life, love, and attitude, so that every Armenian instead of spending holidays abroad, spend them and New Year in Gyumri. Gyumri has plenty to offer: love, culture, delicious food, everything. Let’s be constructive on this issue, lest ten years later, we don’t have to tell why we didn’t do it.”
He recalled his first visit to Gyumri as the Prime Minister of Armenia. “When I became the Prime Minister, even though I was very young, I had great experience and had seen a lot. When I came to Gyumri as the Prime Minister, I was expecting that people would be hard on me because they had been forgotten for many years and the life was bad. I was ready for any word, any attitude and as the Prime Minister of the country had to give answers. But just the opposite happened: people welcomed me kindly and warmly. A grandma suggested we go to her home and not to show the dismal conditions they were living in but for a treat. She opened her heart and shared whatever she had with me. To be honest, after that dignity and love of Gyumretsi became more precious for me, and when because of some health issues I was not able to carry on with my duties, I was having nightmares for many years. Thus, view me as a Gyumretsi, because I am and in the nearest future I want to purchase a home here not to travel back and forth but to come and to stay here.”