Yerevan must become region’s educational and healthcare hub – Samvel Karapetyan

The Defense Council of businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan has posted a new message to his supporters on Facebook.

“Dear compatriots,

Soon it will be the anniversary of Yerevan, the shared and beloved capital of all Armenians.

We all love our Yerevan deeply—regardless of circumstances—but let’s admit: today’s Yerevan, in terms of comfort, ecology, development, and planning, does not live up to the status of a capital city for 10 million Armenians.

I will not list all the problems—they are, unfortunately, many: from the sad architectural chaos to the lack of large parks, from tourist infrastructure that does not reflect the city’s millennia-old history to the absence of large-scale development projects worthy of Yerevan. Asphalt repairs and bus purchases should not be the main indicators of progress; they have little to do with real development.

The situation is not hopeless, of course. The Our Way movement will soon propose diverse solutions to various problems. Yerevan must become the region’s educational and healthcare hub—renowned for its international universities and high-quality medical services. Through precise urban planning and major investments, we will transform Yerevan into a city worthy of its role as the Pan-Armenian Capital—a magnificent metropolis that is comfortable for both living and working.

A program will be developed to renovate building courtyards and facades using the best international practices. Many of our courtyards still evoke the gloomy 1990s, even though we live in the 21st century.

Improved accessibility and affordability of transportation will ensure more dynamic movement within our city. We will also propose major investment programs to renew and modernize the city’s housing stock to meet 21st-century standards.

We will make sure that news from Yerevan is no longer about yet another kiosk being demolished, but about new achievements in development—about major projects being realized, inspired by the world’s best capital cities.

We will do it our way,” the message reads.