Today we live in a society, which cannot 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 introduces developments in Armenia 5, 10 and 15 years ago.

•    10 YEARS AGO: 5-11 AUGUST, 2009

“North-South”

The Armenian government approved on August 6 the decision on constructing North-South highway. Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan stated that the application, presented by the Armenian government to Asian Development Bank (ADB) for funding the first stage of construction, makes about USD 700m.

Tigran Sargsyan stated that, according to preliminary assessments, the aggregate cost of constructing the North-South highway will make about USD 1.5bn.

10 years later the construction of the highway continues and it’s hard to say when it will finish.

“Legitimation of status quo”

U.S. Co-chair of OSCE Minsk group Matthew Bryza stated on August 7 that “Madrid proposals” provides for “legitimation of status quo, formed in the zone of Karabakh conflict”.

Speaking at Euroforum-Armenia forum in Tsaghkadzor, Matthew Bryza said that the period of so-called “interim status” of Nagorno-Karabakh is meant until referendum. Residents of Nagorno-Karabakh may take part in referendum in proportion of 1988, according to which Armenians make 65% of the population, Azerbaijanis make 22%. Bryza said that the referendum should have legal consequences.

Tigran Sargsyan, Matthew Bryza and Maria Jovanovitch in August 2009

Photo: Photolure

According to the mediators’ updated proposals, 5 out of 7 districts around Nagorno-Karabakh were to be returned to Azerbaijan at the initial stage, and the remaining 2 - in a few years. In parallel with this, special security regime was planned to be established in conflict zone to move the heavy machinery out. Mediators also offered to introduce international peacemakers, who would be armed within the limits, necessary to prevent provocations. According to the U.S. mediator, while selecting participant countries of peacekeeping operation, the final decision should be made by Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Matthew Bryza stated that implementation of these ideas via balanced mutual concessions can bring to fair settlement of the conflict. “Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan are on the threshold of obtaining agreement according to basic principles in concept,” he said.

•    5 YEARS AGO: 5-11 AUGUST, 2014

August fights

Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan said on August 6 that the Armenian Armed Forces prevented more than 20 subversive actions of Azerbaijani special military units over the past days.

“The military-political leadership of the rival tries to check the fortitude of the Armenian spirit but they do not realize that our Armed Forces are led by commanders who gained victory in the past, and they pass on their experience to the soldiers,” the Minister said.

“Unfortunately, we have had tragic casualties over this period. The soldiers and officers who perished for the sake of the motherland are guardians of our glorious victories. We didn’t lose them, vice versa - we found them. We have found the real heroes of our society whose names will be voiced everywhere - in schools, universities, media,” Seyran Ohanyan said.

Seyran Ohanyan in August 2014

Photo: Photolure

“Although Baku is vigorously purchasing new armaments, each weapon requires a holder ready to use it. The special units trained in neighboring countries and taking part in the subversive acts against Armenia are doomed to be destroyed in the Armenian positions. Today, the Armenian Defense Forces demonstrate that they are the most competitive in the region by their military readiness and training, and they are ready to put every force in their place,” the Minister said.

Murder of Armenian captive

The Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan informed on August 8 that the 31-year old resident of Armenian Chinari village who had crossed the territory of Azerbaijan on August 7 and was captured “suddenly died for an unknown reason”.

“By preliminary version, Petrosyan’s death was caused by severe cardiopulmonary insufficiency”, the statement of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry quoted by Baku media read.

Karen Petrosyan

 

Armenian Defense Ministry spokesperson Artsrun Hovhannisyan said that the murder of Armenian captive Karen Petrosyan was the traditional modus operandi of Azerbaijani leadership.

“It’s a tactics peculiar of Azerbaijan. It’s not the first time Azerbaijan tries to depict a civilian as a saboteur, makes a show out of it by publishing videos and then kills him so that the truth is not revealed. It’s the result of Azerbaijan’s morbid imagination and an attempt of overcoming its own complexes,” Artsrun Hovhannisyan told Mediamax.

Armenian ballistic missile and ruins of Aghdam

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said on August 11 that the Armenian Armed Forces were in full control of the situation and the rival’s all recent attempts failed.

In an interview to ArmNews TV, the Armenian President commented on Azerbaijani Defense Minister’s statement according to which the Azerbaijani Armed Forces can “wipe Yerevan off the map”.

“During our trilateral meeting with the Russian President, the Azerbaijani President noticed very correctly that the sides are aware of each other’s military capacities.

The meeting of Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani Presidents in Sochi in August 2014

Photo: Armenian President’s press office

Yes, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces can reach from Nakhichevan to Yerevan borders, but such actions are always punished. Azerbaijan knows very well that we have ballistic missile which can leave ruins of any thriving settlement at over a 300km radius, just as those of Aghdam. It is a matter of choice, if they have “given up on their lives”. Sometimes I have the impression that some Azerbaijani leaders entertain themselves with computer games after work. However, one should not mix the virtual reality with real life,” Serzh Sargsyan said.

Ara Tadevosyan