Mkrtich Minasyan, President of the Architects' Union of Armenia, today came out against plans to build a hotel in the vicinity of Republic Square in Yerevan.

"I even hear that an attempt will be made to move the Square and its fountains closer to this hotel," said Minasyan, adding that he had only been informed of the project a week ago.

The architect argued that the proposed site, next to the Republic Square metro station, just doesn't meet the requirements of such a large project. The planned for hotel will be a seven story structure.

He pointed to a lack of parking and the fact that passing trains below would rattle the foundations of the hotel every five minutes.

"I think it was a rushed decision and that not all aspects of the project were properly reviewed," Minasyan said.