Deputy Mayor of Yerevan Aram Sukiasyan presented the motto of “Erebuni-Yerevan 2797” celebration, its program and organizational details and news. Deputy Mayor also referred to the social aspect of “Erebui-Yerevan” which will precede the celebration itself: 2797 citizens will get presents on the event of the day of Yerevan.
Every year “Erebuni-Yerevan” is celebrated on the second weekend of October.
“Erebuni-Yerevan 2797” program is the result of almost three-month efforts: three months ago we started preparations and they are now coming to the end and we can inform the public about it. The program mainly involves traditional events but some changes have been made in it and I am going to present them. Like the previous year the list is rich in events”, said Aram Sukiasyan.
This year, on the occasion of 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, certain events were harmonized with it. On October 10, a number of copies of cuneiforms found in Tushpa (Van), Tigranakert and other cities of Western Armenia will be displayed next to the Khachkars (cross-stones) of Old Julfa in the segment of Main avenue between Nalbandyan and Hanrapetutyan streets. The exhibition will be provided with boards with scientific comments and translation and will be named “Stone monuments”.
On the same day the exhibition called “Gratitude” will open in Yerevan City Hall. Archive materials and their copies about the leaders and city authorities of a number of cities which had given a hand to the Armenians survived the Genocide will be displayed there. This exhibition is the joint initiative of Yerevan History Museum and the Museum-Institute of the Armenian Genocide.
«At that time there will be numerous guests from various cities worldwide in Yerevan and they will get informed about those historical facts in which the former mayors of their cities might have been involved», said the Deputy Mayor.
On October 10, the first day of «Erebuni-Yerevan» celebration the traditional exhibition-fair of national art works, shows of national games, costumes and cuisine will be organized in Erebuni street. The first festive day will be over with the concert «There is a holiday in Yerevan» which will follow the fair.
«Yerevan originated from Erebuni fortress so the «Erebuni-Yerevan» celebration starts from this area», said Aram Sukiasyan.
October 11, the day of main festive events will also start with the traditional parade of water-sprinkling trucks, washing of monuments, art exhibition in Saryan square. Among the first actions included in the program the Deputy Mayor outlined the urban economy and urban programs exposition « A better Yerevan» at which the perspectives of Yerevan and the tendency of development in today's Yerevan will be presented.
A new event included in the program is the «Speaking toy» which was included this year in «Yerevan summer 2015» program and became one of most beloved festival days. The puppet shows, drama groups will show performances for children in Children's park.
«Erebuni-Yerevan 2797» will be rich in sport events too. In the area adjacent to the newly built highway in Isakov avenue motocross, quad bike and mountain cycling shows by skilled sportsmen will be held.. Sport shows can be also seen in Azatutyan square: air acrobatics, street workout, street-ball, high jumps and so on. The sport program in Azatutyan square will be followed by the rock concert.
This year the official celebration will take place at Yerevan City Hall at 14.00. During the event a number of citizens will be awarded with the title of the Honorary Citizen.
After the official event, instead of the parade, the musical and theatrical performance will be held and followed by the dance parade. Brass bands will also come out to the festive parade starting their march from Tumanyan street and walking towards the City hall. University students will have their separate stage as well.
Presentation of Yerevan songs and a karaoke will be held in Northern avenue.
«A collection of songs about Yerevan has been published. It is the first similar edition as it has notes, lyrics, names of authors and performers. I think this music collection will be a good present for all those who love Yerevan and want to sing about it», said Aram Sukiasyan.
Ethnic ensembles and ethnic expositions will perform on the stage at Swan lake. The national minorities living in Armenia will present their arts as well as the newspapers and magazines of their communities which are issued in Armenia.
«Devoted to the capital» is the concert-greeting of the cities and towns of the marzes of Armenia to be held in Aznavour square. The best ensembles of the marzes of Armenia will perform on this stage. Children from marzes are invited to watch the performances.
«The administrative districts of Yerevan have been successfully cooperating with the marzes of Armenia and districts of Karabakh for three years. And at the behest of the administrative districts of Yerevan children from all marzes will visit Yerevan on the event of the celebration. Their accommodation and participation will be provided by the staffs of the administrative districts», said the Deputy Mayor.
The celebration of «Erebuni-Yerevan 2797» will be completed with a gala-concert. Popular singers and group will be on the stage. The firework will come afterwards which in it turn will be followed by the disco.
Deputy Mayor Aram Sukiasyan also presented the social aspect of «My warm and kind city» program.
«Last year this initiative of the Mayor got a good response. This year it will start on October 1 and 2797 families will get presents on the event of Yerevan's day. The list is diverse: both needy families and the families of different social groups, families of disabled veterans, families of servicemen fallen in 2014-2015, families with disabled members, families with many children, Syrian Armenian families will get the presents. It should be noted that the families which had got presents the previous year were included in the list: everything has been done to avoid repetition», said Aram Sukiasyan.
The visit of parents of the servicemen from Yerevan to the military units to visit their sons has been included in «Erebuni-Yerevan» program too. On October 17 about 1400 parents will make for frontier military units to visit their sons.
Aram Sukiasyan attached importance to the presence of delegations in the celebration.
«Yerevan has got many sister and partner cities which have been invited to take part in the celebration and at the moment 20 delegations stated their participation and 7 of them will be headed by mayors and arrive in Yerevan», said the Deputy Mayor.
In response to the question of the journalists concerning quitting the celebration and sending the budget of the celebration to frontier villages Aram Sukiasyan in particular said:
«Like the previous year this year the Council of Elders confirmed funding of AMD 130 million from the community budget for the programs of celebration. As regard the issue which has been discussed in the press Yerevan community has its liabilities determined by law which cover only the administrative territory of Yerevan. It means that Yerevan community can use its budget only within the administrative territory of Yerevan and for the needs of the capital. The issue of quitting the celebration has been certainly discussed. But Yerevan, like all the capitals of the world must celebrate its foundation day, and it must do it solemnly as it's the capital of all Armenians. I think that refusing the celebration we will mean that we will doubt the spirit of our soldiers, the readiness of the officers' staff... Certainly, the peace in the frontier zone is important for all of us, and we have a strong army which defend our borders with honour», said Deputy Mayor of Yerevan Aram Sukiasyan.
The celebration of «Erebuni-Yerevan 2797» under the motto «My warm and kind city» will be started with the social program started on October 1.

Information and Public Relations Department
of the City Hall of Yerevan