Bright Armenia Party has disseminated a statement wherein it urges prevention of the Zvartnots Airport old building' demolition. The Party suggests studying all the opportunities to manage and reconstruct the building and reveal possible corruption risks. In its statement, the Bright Armenia Party addresses the Government, Culture Ministry, Yerevan Municipality and the law-enforcement bodies.
To recall, the terminal of Zvartnots Airport was built upon the project of architects A.Tarkhanyan, S.Khachikyan, L.Cherkezyan, Zh.Shekhlyan, A.Tigranyan, A.Meschyan and designer S.Baghdasaryan. It was put into operation in 1980. In June 2002 Zvartnots Airport was transferred to concession of Armenia International Airports CSJC owned by Argentinean entrepreneur Eduardo Eurnekian. In 2013 Armenia International Airports CSJC made a statement that the old terminal presents a very dangerous structure and does not fit with modern aeronautical standards. The project on demolishing the building raised harsh criticism among architects, who noted that the building has historic value.
The concessionaire presented a new project in 2015 according to which the old building of Zvartnots will be kept partially. According to the project, only the control tower will be maintained while the old terminal will be demolished.
Yerevan Municipality issued a permission for partial demolition of old (circular) building of Zvartnots airport. The statement particularly says that circular overpass of the old terminal will be demolished, which is in ultimate limit state. The relevant permission was given to Armenia International Airports CJSC on December 24, 2015.
Armenian architects stand for the maintenance of the old building. Earlier the experts noted that the old building of Zvartnots along with Armenia's other complexes of strategic importance (NPP, a number of HPPS, Arpa-Sevan underpass) were constructed in compliance with the rules of safety and can stand earthquake of magnitude 9.