U.S. Ambassador John Heffern has urged Gyumri's new Mayor Samvel Balasanian to put in place "an open and transparent system" of governance, saying that foreign investors and development agencies have been reluctant to do business in Armenia's second city.
Heffern visited the unemployment-stricken city on Thursday to meet with Balasanian and discuss his socioeconomic agenda and ways of boosting the struggling local economy. "International partners have been reluctant to work here in the last few years," he told the mayor, seemingly alluding to the controversial rule of Balasanian's predecessor Vartan Ghukasian.
Ghukasian's 13-year tenure, which ended last month, was marred by scandals and controversies. Critics, including independent media outlets, have accused him of leading a clan that controls much of the local economy and tolerates no competition.
Armenian News
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