Epress.am News from Armenia
The Council of Elders of Armenia’s second largest city of Gyumri approved today unanimously a proposal to allocate 1 million drams for the organization of fireworks in connection with the visit of Pope Francis next week, yet during a pre-vote discussion councilman, editor-in-chief of Gyumri-based “Asparez” newspaper Levon Barseghyan had raised some concerns about the advisability of the initiative.
“As far as I know, the Pope doesn’t like fireworks. Are they absolutely necessary? Can’t we spend this money effectively on more pressing issues, or do we absolutely have to set it on fire?” Barseghyan inquired.
Gyumri mayor Samvel Balasanyan, however, insisted on the necessity of the fireworks, saying: “We too want to show that we have a beautiful city.” He added that the fireworks could actually cost 500-600 thousand drams, but they were allocating a million drams “just in case…for unanticipated costs.
“As for the fireworks’ necessity – it’s a celebration and we’re going to have many guests. The Pope will be in Gyumri until 6pm, and it wouldn’t hurt to have a firework display a couple of hours later. We are only human after all…We are not doing this for the Pope, but for ourselves,” the Mayor reasoned.