Today we live in a society, which can not imagine life without expressing views on social media. Probably it does have certain advantages. Nevertheless, many participants of active discussions have already forgotten or do not even know about the developments, which unfolded in Armenia 5, 10 or 15 years ago.
To fill the gap Mediamax presents 5/10/15 project, which introduce developments in Armenia 5, 10 and 15 years ago.
• 15 YEARS AGO: APRIL 29-MAY 5, 2004
“Enemy of the press”
On May 3 the National Press Club (NPC) declared Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and Head of the Parliamentary Commission on Science and Education Hranush Hakobyan “enemies of the press.”
NPC board members said that the Armenian President received the title of “enemy of the press” for signing the law “On mass information” adopted by Armenian National Assembly. According to NPC leaders, this law infringed upon the right of journalists and violated the freedom of speech.
NPC declared Kocharyan “enemy of the press” in 2002 and 2003 as well.
• 10 YEARS AGO: APRIL 29-MAY 5, 2009
“They defiled the sacred topic”
At a rally on May 1, 2009, Levon Ter-Petrosyan stated that “Armenia’s authorities of the past 11 years - Robert Kocharyan, Vardan Oskanyan, Serzh Sargsyan and Edward Nalbandian - have literally defiled the sacred topic of the Genocide, turning it into a subject of political auction and haggle”.
Левон Тер-Петросян на шествии в 2009 годуPhoto: REUTERS
On May 4 Viktor Soghomonyan, Head of the office of the second Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, said that Ter-Petrosyan’s remark had “all chances to become a classic example of demagogy”.
“Accusing Robert Kocharyan of the results of “football diplomacy” or speculation of the topic of the Genocide is just as absurd as thanking Levon Ter-Petrosyan for economic achievements of Armenia in 1998-2008,” said Soghomonyan.
• 5 YEARS AGO: APRIL 29-MAY 5, 2014
“Friend of Armenians 2014”
On May 2 the solemn assemblies hall of Saint Vardan Cathedral in New York hosted the ceremony of awarding Deep Purple frontman and legendary rock musician Ian Gillan the honorary title of “Friend of Armenians 2014”.
The ceremony was held within annual assembly of about 500 members of the Eastern Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Church in U.S.
The decision to award Ian Gillan was conditioned by his role in Rock Aid Armenia project and considerable contribution to reconstruction of Gyumri N6 music school.
Ian Gillan during the event on May 4, 2014 Photo: FAR
Archbishop Khazhak Parsamyan called Ian Gillan an “Ambassador of Hope”, who used the power of art for the good of the Armenian people.
In his speech, Ian Gillan said that he was incredibly touched to receive Archbishop Parsamyan’s letter. The singer told about his trip to Spitak in 1990, which became one of the most dramatic emotional experiences in his life. Gillan stressed that he and Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi were “to the view” during the implementation of the project of music school construction, while tremendous work was done by those who “were behind the scene”.
Ara Tadevosyan
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