Yerevan hosts protest against building museum in Nor Nork Park

On June 27, in the capital of Armenia, in front of the municipality building, a protest action was held against the construction of the Museum of Fridtjof Nansen, Norwegian scientist, in the park of the administrative district of Nor Nork.

Participants of the protest action passed on a letter, addressed to Taron Margaryan, Mayor of Yerevan. In the letter, they demanded to stop construction of the museum in a green area of the city and develop the park instead of that. According to the participants of the protest action, the letter was signed by about 600 residents of Nor Nork.

Ani Kaginyan, a resident of the administrative district of Nor Nork, has emphasized that the main purpose of the protest action is not to allow destroying one more green area of the capital. According to the woman, the construction works on laying the foundation began ten days ago.

"A part of the park is already being used for other purposes. For example, a cafe was built in the place of public toilets, and 'Winter Park' has become a supermarket. And the Nansen Museum could become a precedent for the construction of other museums in the territory," Ani Kaginyan has noted.

The woman has also added that the customer of the building is the Nansen Foundation. Furthermore, the funding is made not by the City mayoralty, but by individuals.

"In November 2011, the Nansen Museum was opened in the city of Vanadzor. And for unknown reasons, the Museum's property was brought to Yerevan, and they want to build a new museum," Ani Kaginyan says.

Samvel Svazyan, a participant of the protest action, emphasizes: "We cannot say that we are illiterate and that we do not respect Fridtjof Nansen. However, we are against lawlessness."

The resident of Nor Nork expresses his indignation, why the public opinion is not taken into account and no hearings are being held.

Activist Anna Shakhbazyan states that near the park named after Fridtjof Nansen, there is a number of derelict territories, where the museum of the famous scientist could be safely build.

"No one opposes the construction of the museum. We also support the idea, but not at the expense of green areas," Ms Shakhbazyan has emphasized.