Gagik Khachatryan, who heads the Division of Communal Services at the Yerevan Municipality, assured reporters that his department was ready for any and all surprises that the coming winter months might throw at Yerevan; in terms of the weather. Mr. Khachatryan boasted that the city had 250 units of equipment, 700 tons of salt and 1,650 cubic meters of sand at the ready. He also said that the firms responsible for snow removal would make no distinction between roads in the center of town and those in outlying neighbourhoods. Main traffic arteries would be tackled first, he said, and secondary streets later on, followed by building courtyards. Mr. Khachatryan also claimed that the manpower shortages experienced last year had been resolved. “We have recruited enough workers to cope this year. In addition, their ranks will be swelled by those who usually work on maintain the city’s green spaces. In all, we’ll have 1,114 people on the job.” As a welcome addition to this year’s snow removal program, Mr. Khachatryan stated that the city had reached an agreement with business owners, obligating them to take responsibility for snow and ice removal in front of their places of business. Last year, there were many reports of pedestrians slipping and sliding due to the snow and ice and many wound up with bruises and broken bones.