Though the human and material heavy loss caused by the 1988 December disastrous earthquake, today the city of Gyumri sprouts as a snowdrop and restores its former form and charm.

The will of the resident of Gyumri remained unshakable, even during those terrible and severe years it kept and preserved the traditional honour, worthy human dignity.

Like the unshaken will of the resident of Gyumri, even after the powerful earthquake unique buildings remained steadfast, as Vardan Achemian Drama Theatre, the MEMORIAL COMPLEX "Mother-Armenia" immortalizing the memory of the Leninakanians perished during the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War, the new building of the railway station, the airport, the bridge connecting the two parts of the city, the Big Castle of Alexandropol, the Russian church, numerous residential houses of the 19th century and many other buildings.

Today, on the initiative of the municipality numerous buildings of architectural value are restored. St. Nshan and St. Astvatsatsin churches, the works of the restoration of St. Amenaprkich church go on with all strength.

In the new residential St. Hakob quarter has already been built and already functions. "Hoktember" cinema, one of the beloved cultural centres of the residents of Leninakan-Gyumri has been restored, according to the international standards and functions.

At the centre of the attention of the municipality are the works of the restoration of the residential houses with an architectural style typical to Gyumri of the 19th century and other buildings. In some of them, after the reconstruction of the house-museums of the Armenian eminent poets Avetik Isahakian, Hovhannes Shiraz, painters Aslamazian sisters were established. Both the residents of Gyumri and the guests visiting the city go to these house-museums with great pleasure.

Beginning from 1998 there were serious moves in the sphere of capital construction. As a result of earthquake more than 5000 families left homeless received new comfortable apartments and live there, which are provided with all facilities of municipal services.

The works of the construction of the new building of the Executive Committee of Leninakan City Soviet (Gyumri municipality) began and go on with all strength. With architectural form, well-managed and green areas "Ani," "Red Cross," "Austrian" and "Italian" residential quarters attract the people.

Both the reconstructed and newly built schools, children's and health care institutions of the city are provided for the full organization of their works with all necessary means and public services. The small and medium enterprises got developed with full strength in the city.

With that aim in 1999-2005 by Gyumri municipality permission of the construction of about 500 buildings were given to the natural and legal persons, among which 70 are individual residential houses, 348 - trade and service entities, 79 - trade temporary pavilions, and these arrangements gave opportunity to create about 2500 new jobs. New enterprise of light industry has been created and it functions, where today 450 people work, the stocking and knitted-goods factories started to work. The volumes of the foreign investments increase. The production of stone processing, "Strommashina" factory, set up by benefactor Hovnanian had good results.

Year-by-year the network of the higher educational institutions gets expanded. Today the number of the students is over 10.000.

In Gyumri the celebration of the Day of the City became best tradition. It's important that the day of the city is marked not by speeches and banquets, but every time creating one or several lasting significant values.

Only on September 24, 2005, on the occasion of the Day of the city, in the presence of numerous high ranking guests, state officials and dozens of thousands of inhabitants of the city, the opening of "Bagratuniants" memorial and the statue the Armenian distinguished poet Hovhannes Shiraz, an Armenian-French park was set up and many other remarkable arrangements were held.

It's nice that Gyumri lives and is born anew, and Gyumri is built and rebuilt with all strength. The resident of Gyumri works and creates keeping high his/her honour and dignity.
After short time today's generation will be the witness when the city of Gyumri can get its former sight and become more prosperous.
We'll wish good luck to the city of Gyumri and the residents of Gyumri.