YEREVAN. – Prosperous Armenia group in the Yerevan council naturally voted against the draft bill proposing allocation of $750 thousand to New Year and Christmas celebrations, deputy of Prosperous Armenia parliamentary group said.

Naira Zohrabyan emphasized that she 'had never been against festivities', but she believes it is ‘cynical’ to allocate $750 thousand to the celebrations when capital city faces major problems, such as waste collection and illumination, which require immediate solution.

“This is the reason Prosperous Armenia group voted against the initiative,” she explained.

Naira Zohrabyan also reacted to the remark by Hasmik Khachunts from “My Step” group who said PM Nikol Pashinyan will be present at the square, and this will make everyone feel as a part of a large family.

“I think that the New Year with Mr. Pashinyan can be celebrated with a smaller amount, and I don’t think that the size of the amount was important for Mr. Pashinyan. The holiday is not a holiday due to the amount, size of spending. Holiday is a state of mind, festive mood. They could spend 100 000 drams [around $230 -ed.], but there would be festive mood.  Residents of Yerevan have urgent problems, and I am sure that not a single Yerevan resident, except demagogues and populists, cannot welcome the fact that $750,000 is allocated for the New Year celebrations when his elevator is broken, and it may become an elevator of death for his child,” she added.