5/10/15: The “core” of the problem, agenda for middle class, and “playing with fire” - Mediamax.am

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5/10/15: The “core” of the problem, agenda for middle class, and “playing with fire”


Ilham Aliyev and George W. Bush in Washngton D.C., April 28, 2006
Ilham Aliyev and George W. Bush in Washngton D.C., April 28, 2006

Photo: REUTERS

Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Photo: REUTERS

Rene van der Linden
Rene van der Linden

Photo: REUTERS

Stefan Füle and Edward Nalbandyan
Stefan Füle and Edward Nalbandyan

Photo: Photolure

Terry Davis
Terry Davis

Photo: REUTERS

Tigran Sargsyan
Tigran Sargsyan

Photo: Photolure


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 26 – MAY 2, 2006

 

“Impossible without the conflict settlement”

 

On April 26 Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Terry Davis, said in the exclusive interview with Mediamax that normalization of Armenia’s relations with Turkey required to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Terry Davis Terry Davis

Photo: REUTERS

“This is really a very important issue. But it is peripheral, it is only the edge. The important thing is to deal with the central problem, and we all know what the central problem is. It is the future of Nagorno-Karabakh. So, let’s get that settled, let’s go to the heart of the problem, not doing things around it,” CoE Secretary General concluded.

 

“Azerbaijan’s energy resources might acquire international significance”

 

On April 26 President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said that Azerbaijan’s energy resources might acquire not only regional but also European and international significance.

 

Addressing the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, he said:

 

“No matter what importance Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum gas and oil pipelines have, they have mainly regional significance.”

Ilham Aliyev and George W. Bush in Washngton D.C., April 28, 2006 Ilham Aliyev and George W. Bush in Washngton D.C., April 28, 2006

Photo: REUTERS

Speaking of gas export, Aliyev said that from the very beginning Azerbaijan saw its markets in Turkey and Georgia and “never counted” on Europe. “Today, EU representatives turn to us regarding the future cooperation to supply gas to Europe. It’s a new issue for us and we have never seriously considered it. If we deal with this issue in the future then we all – Azerbaijan, the gas companies and the European Union - have to do it together.”

 

“We would be glad if USA joins this project,” he added.

 

“The membership in CoE is over”

 

On April 29 President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Rene van der Linden, said in the exclusive interview with Mediamax that in case of a new war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, “it will become impossible to have members of the CoE which try to solve conflicts by using military force.”

Rene van der Linden Rene van der Linden

Photo: REUTERS

Commenting by Mediamax’s request on the militaristic statements voiced by Azeri leadership, PACE President said:

 

“They have to be aware that if they finally use military force, to my mind, it’s over - the membership in CoE is over. They have to decide. But I am sure nobody will accept this way of behavior.”

 

•    10 YEARS AGO: APRIL 26 – MAY 2, 2011

 

New agenda for middle class

 

On April 29 Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan highlighted the need to form a new agenda “to counterbalance obstacles, which hinder formation of a middle class in Armenia.”

 

He said that the middle class in Armenia was then formed by representatives of intelligentsia. At that, according to him, the largest part of the Armenian intelligentsia - scientists, doctors, teachers, culture figures – were the lowest-paid members of the society and a significant number of them lived in poverty.

 

“Their self-perception as a middle layer is not determined by availability of private property, but by the level of social-professional authority,” Armenian Prime Minister said.

Tigran Sargsyan Tigran Sargsyan

Photo: Photolure

Tigran Sargsyan observed that financially well-standing people gradually formed a sparse, but increasing group within the Armenian population. “But can an official, who accepts bribes, or an entrepreneur, who gives bribes (or is forced to give bribes), be considered middle class in the purely social-political sense of that word?” Sargsyan asked.

 

He said that the Armenian society lacked stability and self-confidence “not because there are few “middle-class” citizens, but because the society lacks a structure which links people of various professions, layers and property into a social union, which sets legal and moral frames of social action.”  

 

Tigran Sargsyan noted that in the European experience, in transitioning societies the process of middle class formation lasted almost 10 years.

 

EU “extremely concerned” with Azerbaijan’s warlike language

 

On April 29 European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Füle said in Yerevan that he was “extremely concerned with the statements about use of force as one of ways to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.”

Stefan Füle and Edward Nalbandyan Stefan Füle and Edward Nalbandyan

Photo: Photolure

“All parties involved should clearly understand that the military way of conflict resolution is inadmissible,” he said.

 

•    5 YEARS AGO: APRIL 26 – MAY 2, 2016

 

Dismissals in Defense Ministry and General Staff

 

On April 26 Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree relieving Alik Mirzabekyan of his position as Armenian Deputy Defense Minister and Head of Logistics Department.

 

By another decree, Major General Arshak Karapetyan was relieved of his post as Head of Intelligence Department of General Staff of Armenian Armed Forces, as Major General Komitas Muradyan was releived from the post of Head of Communications and ACS Department of Armenian Armed Forces.

 

Over 550 shells

 

On April 26 Azerbaijan conducted intensive artillery fire at the entire length of NK-Azerbaijan Line of Contact.

 

Azerbaijani Armed Forces fired over 550 shells from mortar launchers, long-range guns and MM-21 (Grad) missile system at civilian settlements and military positions in Artsakh.

 

Azerbaijan shelled Martakert region center, Nerkin Horatogh village, and other civilian settlements.

 

“Armenia is playing with fire”

 

On April 27 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that “Armenia is playing with fire.”

 

“Armenia is playing with fire. More than 100,000 Armenians are living in Turkey, some of whom do not have residence permits. The situation has been tolerated by Turkey. These actions show how friendly Turkey has been acting. However, Armenia cannot see this,” Erdogan said.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Photo: REUTERS

According to the Turkish President, Azerbaijan was gaining advantage during the ongoing clashes at NK-Azerbaijan Line of Contact, and even Russia could not support Armenia openly.

 

“In terms of population, number of the troops and other opportunities, Azerbaijan has much more power than Armenia. Azerbaijan is unique, different from Georgia or Ukraine. Russia could not get the result it was expecting in Ukraine, and it only got results in Crimea,” said Erdogan.

 

Ara Tadevosyan

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