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 20-26, 2004
“A clear, comprehensible formula”
“Any actions directed at the weakening of our positions are perceived rather negatively in Moscow,” Armenian President Robert Kochayan stated on May 20.
Robert Kocharyan and Vladimir Putin Photo: Photolure
“The reason is as follows: the probability of a weakened Armenia falling under the influence of other parties is much higher, and this does not meet the interests of our bilateral relations, as Armenia is Russia’s strategic partner in this region. That is why any actions that can lead to such problems are considered a threat to the deepening of bilateral relations. This is a very clear, comprehensible formula,” he said when asked to comment on the results of his visit to Moscow and meeting with Vladimir Putin.
The attempt on Shahmuradyan’s life
On the night of May 24th to 25th, unknown individuals made an attempt on the life of prominent businessman, President and Director General of Armenia-LADA Rafael Shahmuradyan.
The incident took place on Baghramyan Avenue, near Friendship Square, Yerevan. Shahmuradyan, who was at the wheel of a Nissan Patrol at that moment, suffered severe wounds when the attackers driving a Niva opened gunfire at his car.
Rafael Shahmuradyan survived that attempt, but was attacked again and assassinated in Tolyatti (Russia) in February of 2005.
• 10 YEARS AGO: MAY 20-26, 2009
The project of a new power unit for ANPP
On May 21, 2009 Armenian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan stated that construction of a new power generating unit would start in 2012 on the same platform where the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP) was situated.
It has been 10 years, but the project of a new power unit remains on paper.
• 5 YEARS AGO: MAY 20-26, 2014
“Ruthless fight”
On May 20, 2014 Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan announced that “the fight against the shadow economy will be ruthless, impartial and consistent”.
Hovik Abrahamyan on May 20, 2014Photo: Photolure
“The “shadow” is an enemy for us all, and the fight against it will be ruthless, impartial and consistent. Documentation should be mandatory for all, without exceptions. I would like to state once more that everybody should start the reforms first of all from himself. I will be more demanding of my family and friends, and I will demand the same from all the members of the government,” he said.
“We need lasting solutions”
At the convention of Armenia’s ruling Republic Party on May 24, President Serzh Sargsyan stated that constitutional reforms should serve for the establishment of stable democracy and rule-of-law state.
“These reforms will become a qualitatively new stage for our country for establishing a stable democratic system and a rule-of-law state. We should make it clear for us and state with self-criticism that for objective and subjective reasons, 20 years after declaring our independence we cannot claim that democracy stands on firm grounds in our country, human rights are protected and the judiciary is fair and impartial.
Our political system requires modernization. It is over-personified and over-centralized. The real scale of authority and the political duties of various bodies are disproportionate. The system of the executive power is incomplete; it lacks firm internal logic and clear distinction between functions and authorities. All this nowise contributes to effective governance and increase of people’s trust in state authorities.
Serzh Sargsyan on May 24, 2014Photo: Photolure
You know that the Constitutional Reform Commission has recommended shifting to parliamentary governance as a possible alternative. Irrespective of my preferences, this issue should be seriously and impartially discussed without any speculations. I find unacceptable the approaches of those political forces and figures, which still recently demanded a change in the system of governance, but all of a sudden claim today there is absolutely no need for constitutional reforms. I once again affirm the statement I made at the meeting with the members of the Constitutional Reform Commission: people, political forces and current interests are all temporary, but Constitution is for the generations,” said the Armenian President.
Serzh Sargsyan added that the radical reform of the political system was closely related to the issues of the judicial power.
“We should all clearly realize that without independent and impartial judiciary we will have neither guaranteed protection of human rights nor reliable investment environment. Thus, one of the most important issues of constitutional reforms is to find relevant and lasting solutions to the issues that the judiciary is facing,” he said.
Ara Tadevosyan
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