From Plesi-Robinson to Arabkir

06/12/2006 Karapet TOMIKYAN

On November 21 mayor of Plessis-Robinson city of France, head of Arabkir community of Yerevan Hovhannes Shahinyan, deputy-mayor on technical service of Plessis-Robinson Benua Blo and deputy-mayor on inter-community issues of Plessis-Robinson, Corinne Duguer participated in the ceremony of granting two garbage and snow removal trucks to Arabkir community of Yerevan. It took place in Plessis-Robinson .

Technical Director of “SEGEX” company on community issues also participated in this event. The trucks were acquired by the mentioned company. In December they will reach Armenia and participate in sanitary activities. The grant of the trucks was the result of cooperation between Plessis-Robinson and Arabkir community of Yerevan. The cooperation between them started since 2004. It was when the mentioned French city put the statute of Zoravar Andranik in one of its groves of the city. The sculptor of the statue is Ruben Nalbandyan. This small town of France, which has only 22,000 population, has 50 Armenian families living there. The inauguration of the statue had a purpose to fortify relations with the local Armenian community.

In April of the current year the head of Arabkir community invited to Yerevan the French delegation headed by Philippe Pemezec, co-ideologist of Nicola Sarcozie, mayor of Plessis-Robinson. On April 26, the heads of two communities based on the agreement signed long ago (Arabkir and Plessis-Robinson are “sister” communities) signed a new agreement, which launched the cultural, economic and educational cooperation of the communities. At that time Philippe Pemezec promised to help Arabkir community in garbage collection by sending certain equipment and specialist exchange. In terms of green area Plessis-Robinson is considered the most beautiful city of France.

In October by the invitation of Philippe Pemezec the delegation of the head of Arabkir community, headed by Shahinyan, left for Plessis-Robinson. The heads of the two communities clarifies their further policies. They are going to cooperate in sports, school building, and furnishing. Now they are discussing the possibilities of cooperating in construction as Plessis-Robinson is a medieval city with its old and unique architecture.