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.
• 15 YEARS AGO: SEPTEMBER 16-22, 2004
The pardon of Babayan
On 17 September President of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) Arkady Ghukasyan signed the decree pardoning former Defense Minister of NKR Samvel Babayan, who was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment.
Samvel Babayan and Arkady Ghukasyan Photo: REUTERS
Babayan, accused of organizing the 22 March 2000 attempt on Ghukasyan’slife, was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment in high-security prison with confiscation of private property.
What didn’t Romano Prodi like?
On September 19, European Commission President Romano Prodi said in Yerevan he “does not like” the fact that the Turkish-Armenian border remained closed.
Prodi did not rule out that “the issue of closed borders” might become one of the preconditions for Turkey for the membership in the EU.
Romano Prodi and Vardan Oskanyan Photo: Photolure
“Personally, I don’t like that the Turkish-Armenian border remains closed and there are no diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey. I am ready to do everything in my power to contribute to the opening of the border,” said Romano Prodi.
“The time is not on your side”
On September 22 U.S. Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Steven Mann said that the talks between the mediators and Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents in Astana on September 15 were aimed at defining if the two countries’ leaders had the political will to settle the Karabakh conflict.
“We tell the two governments: the time is not on your side. It will be worse both for Armenia and Azerbaijan. The regional development passes by Armenia. Pipelines, roads, railways are being built, and Armenia misses the advantages it could get from the economic integration with the whole region. The country pays a high cost for the army it has to keep. As to Azerbaijan, the major part of the country is under occupation, there are about one million refugees and migrants. And the longer the conflict lasts, the more it acquires the status of a permanent state of affairs which does not suit this country,” Mann said.
Steven MannPhoto: Photolure
He noted it was important that in each country all political leaders - both the government and the opposition – united “in order to legitimatize the idea of talks, legitimatize the idea of compromise”.
• 10 YEARS AGO: SEPTEMBER 16-22, 2009
Lee Kuan Yew in Yerevan
On 18 September Minister-Mentor of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew said in Yerevan that if Armenia wanted to be a competitive country, it should follow the American development model.
According to him, it was the model that was most suitable for Armenia. “Neither Georgia nor Azerbaijan and not even Iran will help you, so you should “jump over” these countries,” he added.
Lee Kuan Yew and Armenian PM Tigran SargsyanPhoto: Photolure
He noted Armenia had to define its privilege, distinguishing characteristic and move ahead with that. “Armenia has a large Diaspora abroad, especially in the USA, and the emphasis should be put on this very factor,” the Minister-Mentor said.
• 5 YEARS AGO: SEPTEMBER 16-22, 2014
“Formal and regular talks”
On 16 September U.S. Co-Chair of OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick said in Yerevan that “the occasional meetings taking place between Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents and Foreign Ministers are no longer enough”.
“It’s time to advance the talks at another level. More formal talks are needed and the parties have to decide what that process should be like,” he noted.
According to Warlick, coming to final terms over the key elements required the parties to have regular high-level meetings.
James Warlick Photo: Photolure
The co-chair expressed his concerns over the atmosphere of mistrust between the Armenian and Azerbaijani governments and societies.
“There is deep mistrust between the sides and I do notice it during my meetings with senior officials in both Yerevan and Baku,” Warlick said.
“No threat”
On September 21, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan stated that the membership in Eurasian Economic Union did not pose any threat to Armenia’s political independence.
The President stated it in his address on the occasion of Independence Day.
“In the near future we are going to become a member of the Eurasian Economic Union. This decision is conditioned by new possibilities of Armenia's economic development and the existing regional security system. We have to be honest. Nobody is a prophet and we can't predict what result we will achieve in 10 or 20 years from now, but one thing is clear: if we work hard, we can expect serious economic benefits. We have economic growth today as well. The fact that we are not satisfied with the existing growth rates is quite another matter. A huge market is going to open up for our products, and the entry into it depends on our working skills.
Serzh Sargsyan on September 21, 2014 Photo: Armenian President’s press office
On this occasion, I would like to respond to some of our opponents who try to present our membership in the Eurasian Economic Union as a loss of Armenia’s independence. I have to say that such speculations have existed in all 23 years of independence. Today, on Armenia’s Independence Day, I declare with utmost responsibility that our membership in the Eurasian Economic Union does not pose a threat to Armenia’s political independence anyhow. Such claims are groundless. There is not any integration process in the world which does not suppose coordination of steps,” Sargsyan said.
The explosion of Armenian church in Deir ez-Zor
On the same day, militants from the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist group mined and blew up the Armenian Church of the Holy Martyrs in Deir ez-Zo, Syria.
“We strongly condemn the explosion of the Armenian Church, which built in Deir ez-Zor in memory of the Armenian Genocide martyrs. This blatant vandalism toward the sacred place shows once again the ferocious essence of “Islamic State” terrorist group. The international community should immediately stop and eradicate this plague that is threatening the civilized world as well as cut the stream of their funding and support,” said Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.
Ara Tadevosyan
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