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: MAY 4-10, 2005
The new U.S. Embassy
The new U.S. Embassy of the United States of America opened in Yerevan on May 6, 2005.
The total area of the complex is 90,000 square meters. The U.S. government spent USD 76m to build the new embassy.
Photo: Photolure
Speaking at the opening of the new building, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans said that “the USA attaches great importance to the development of relations with Armenia”.
John Evans confirmed America’s readiness to assist to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations. The Ambassador said that to solve the Karabakh problem, Yerevan and Baku should make compromises, and added that the USA “doesn’t intend to impose the resolution of the conflict on the parties.”
John Evans talking at the Embassy openingPhoto: Photolure
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan stated that the new building of the U.S. Embassy not only proved the country’s intention to boost relations with Armenia, but it was also a “particular contribution to the future.”
• 5 YEARS AGO: MAY 4-10, 2015
The diplomatic scandal with Georgia
On May 4, Spokesperson of the Georgian MFA David Kereselidze said that the official Tbilisi was clarifying the information on the meeting of Armenian parliament speaker Galust Sahakyan with the speaker of South Ossetia parliament Anatoli Bibilov, who visited Karabakh as an observer at the parliamentary elections.
On the same day, Head of the PR and Media Department of Armenian parliament Arsen Babayan stated that the Sahakyan-Bibilov meeting was “private” and the parties did not discuss “any official matters”.
On May 5, Prime Minister of Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan assured his Georgian counterpart Irakli Gharibashvili of Armenia’s rigorous support to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia.
Hovik Abrahamyan and Irakli Gharibashvili Photo: Armenian Government’s press office
Abrahamyan stated during the phone call that it was “an informal communication of private character on a day-off”.
At the same time, Armenian Ambassador to Georgia Yuri Vardanyan was summoned to the Georgian Foreign Ministry where he met Deputy Minister Gigi Gigiadze. The Georgian diplomat said he was “extremely worried’’ about the meeting between Galust Sahakyan and Anatoli Bibilov.
The prayer in Washington
On May 7, a prayer dedicated to the Armenian Genocide victims was held at the Washington National Cathedral.
The ceremony was attended by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power, as well as Secretary General of the World Council of Churches Olav Fykse Tveit and other guests.
Vigen Sargsyan, Edward Nalbandyan, Sersh Sargsyan, Joe Biden and Samantha Power at Washington National Cathedral Photo: Armenian President’s press office
Speaking at the ceremony, Serzh Sargsyan expressed the hope that the United States would recognize the Armenian Genocide sooner than later.
The Armenian President recalled that progressive American social-public figures condemned the anti-Armenian policy of the Ottoman sultan’s government back in late 19th century.
Sersh Sargsyan speaks at Washington National CathedralPhoto: Armenian President’s press office
“U.S. Ambassador Henry Morgenthau’s name has been eternalized in gold letters among the friends of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. He was the first American to tell the world about the mass killings of the Armenians carried out by Young Turks, describing the Armenian Genocide as an “extermination campaign.”
The Armenian people will also always remember hundreds of Americans who established orphanages in Armenia, Middle East and Europe to save and take care of the tens of thousands of Armenian orphans who survived the Genocide,” said Serzh Sargsyan.
Ara Tadevosyan
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