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: JUNE 3-10, 2004

Igdir mayor vs. Armenian NPP

On June 7, 2004 Iğdır province (Turkey) Governor Nurettin Aras declared that the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP) should be shut down as soon as possible.

Nurettin Aras revealed that that his office had collected 2,500 signatures on the first day of a one-week campaign for closure of the Armenian nuclear power plant. The Governor said they intended to take their demand to the Turkish authorities.

Zvartnots Airport starts building a new terminal

On the same day, Zvartnots International Airport officially launched the construction of the new passenger terminal.

Zvartnots Departure hall

 

The new terminal was announced to occupy a territory of 18.000 square meters, and the volume of investments in the construction of the terminal, which was scheduled to complete in three stages over 3-4 years, would make about USD 50m.

•    10 YEARS AGO: JUNE 3-10, 2009

No ‘breakthrough” in St. Petersburg

Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev reached no “breakthrough” or “significant progress” in the talks in Saint Petersburg in June 4, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said after the meeting.

“Despite the fact that today we cannot talk about a breakthrough or significant progress, the sides have advanced and agreed to continue the negotiations,” he noted.

Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev in 2009

Photo: REUTERS

Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov said “there was not breakthrough, but there are advancements”. He noted that the sides understood each other’s positions.

“Within reasonable timeframe”

On June 9, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia Philip Gordon stated in Yerevan that “normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations should take place within reasonable timeframe and without any preconditions”.

Answering a question from Mediamax, Philip Gordon stressed that “the Armenian-Turkish dialogue should not be linked to other issues”. He commented on the word combination “reasonable timeframe”, saying that the timeframe should be determined by Armenia and Turkey.

Philip Gordon and U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Maria Yovanovitch

Photo: Photolure

“The sides understand that the process cannot last forever. They realize the necessity for moving forward,” added Gordon.

“Some form of voting”

On the same day Philip Gordon said that the process of Karabakh conflict settlement would use “some form of voting, which will reflect the will of people”.

The American diplomat noted that the settlement should in a “balanced way” reflect three basic principles: the right for self-determination, territorial integrity and non-use of force.

•    5 YEARS AGO: JUNE 3-10, 2014

The opinion of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh

“All negotiation efforts and processes should take into account the stance and opinion of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh,” Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said following the talks with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swiss President Didier Burkhalter on June 4.

Serzh Sargsyan and Didier Burkhalter

Photo: Photolure

“As far as confidence-building measures are concerned, we clearly note that demonstration of proper respect to the people of Nagorno-Karabakh is a top priority. After all, it is a national liberation struggle for the fundamental right of self-determination, and there can be no solution without taking this fact into account. We are deeply convinced that to be more effective, all the negotiation efforts and processes should take into account the Nagorno-Karabakh people’s stance and opinion in the first place,” said Sargsyan.

Ara Tadevosyan