Angry residents declare - "Kozern isn't Northern Avenue" Scores of residents from the Kozern neighbourhood of Yerevan gathered outside the Government Building earlier today to protest plans to demolish sections of the area in the guise of eminent domain. Some 194 households in the neighbourhood are threatened with the wrecking ball. Many showed up today to declare that wouldn’t be forcibly moved, even though they have been offered $300 per square meter. They argue the compensation rates being proposed are laughable for such prime real estate. "We want apartments in return. I have been living in the neighbourhood for 70 years. The government better not try any funny stuff to trick us," said Matsak Hovhannisyan. "Long-time residents will never leave so that these developers can move in and do what they like." Local residents are not averse to developing the area but want adequate compensation, preferably comparable sized apartments in any new buildings. Resident Samvel Mkrtchyan said that it wasn’t a question of money but one of trust. "Let’s get the new apartments first and then we’ll leave our homes." The protestors say they want to sit down and negotiate with Samvel Mayrapetyan, the chief developer involved in Kozern. Samvel Mkrtchyan was allowed in the building to arrange a meeting. Upon exiting, he told residents that such a meeting would be scheduled in the next two days. As he was addressing his fellow Kozern neighbours, newly elected Yerevan Mayor Karen Karapetyan exited the building and made a beeline to a waiting car. It seemed that he wished to avoid the irate crowd. Residents didn’t let him off the hook. They surrounded him, peppering the new mayor with questions and demands. "I understand the issue at hand," said Mayor Karapetyan. "Why don’t you appoint a committee and visit the neighbourhood yourself to find out what’s happening?" responded one of the protestors "OK, fine," answered the mayor and left the scene. Samvel Mkrtchyan summed up the sentiments of the crowd by saying that no one could force them to leave their homes. "Kozern isn’t Northern Avenue. We will not allow what happened elsewhere in Yerevan to happen to us," he declared.