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: JANUARY 1-19, 2005

“Armenia will make independent decisions”

On January 13, 2005 Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov said that “Armenia is a sovereign state and it will make independent decision” at the press conference in Russian Embassy in Washington, held in conclusion of his working visit to the United States.

Sergey Ivanov in 2005

Photo: REUTERS

“Together we make part of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). A large Russian military base is located in Armenia. We have very close economic and cultural links,” Sergey Ivanov said. At the same time, he noted that Russia “will not push Armenia in any direction”.

Armenian peacekeepers arrive in Iraq

Armenian peacekeeping contingent (46 medical officers, sappers, and drivers) traveled to Iraq on January 18.

U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans called the dispatch of the Armenian peacekeepers to Iraq “a very important event for Armenia, the United States and the international coalition”.

“We welcome the decision of the Armenian government to station this contingent in Iraq. The situation in Iraq is complicate, and we understand that the decision to send the contingent was a difficult one,” said John Evans.

Serzh Sargsyan and John Evans on January 18, 2005

Photo: Photolure

Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sargsyan said that “we cannot stay aside the regional processes, especially the international efforts for establishment of peace and stability in Iraq”.

“Armenia is getting involved in a process, which, despite the ambiguous perception on the part of the international community as well as by the Armenian society, is one of the most important components of building international security,” he said. Sargsyan noted that “our striving for full integration into the international community brings forth certain moral obligations”.

Serzh Sargsyan on January 18, 2005

Photo: Photolure

•    10 YEARS AGO: JANUARY 1-19, 2010

A “signal” for Turkey

On January 14, 2010 Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian stated that the decision of the Constitutional Court concerning Armenian-Turkish protocols should become a “signal” for Turkey and remind Ankara of the necessity to fulfill the commitments it undertook.

Speaking at a press conference in Yerevan with his Russian counterpart, Nalbandian stressed that Armenia would fulfill the commitments provided for by the protocols. “I would not like to think that the Turkish authorities intentionally block the ratification of protocols,” he noted.

Edward Nalbandian and Sergey Lavrov at a news conference in Yerevan

Photo: Photolure

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in his turn that the Kremlin “views as inappropriate the efforts to artificially link the processes of normalizing Armenian-Turkish relations and Karabakh conflict settlement”.  “We see no link between these processes”, he stressed.

Head of European Union Delegation in Armenia Raul de Luzenberger welcomed the decision of the Constitutional Court of Armenia in the interview to Mediamax.

“I welcome the decision of the Constitutional Court which opens the way for the parliamentary ratification procedure of the protocols on the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations. I hope that the ratification process will be completed smoothly in both countries, within a reasonable timeframe and without any preconditions,” he noted.

•    5 YEARS AGO: JANUARY 1-19, 2015

The horrifying murder in Gyumri

In the early morning of January 12, soldier serving in the Russian military base in Gyumri Valeriy Permyakov killed six members of Avetisyan family: Seryozha Avetisyan, Hasmik Avetisyan, Aida Avetisyan, Armen Avetisyan, Araksya Poghosyan, and Hasmik Avetisyan. Another child, 6-month-old Seryozha Avetisyan was taken to hospital with gunshot wounds.

Photo: Photolure

On the same day Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan held a meeting with Russian Ambassador to Armenia Ivan Volynkin. The latter said that Russia wanted the crime to be solved as soon as possible and the perpetrators to be brought to justice. Volynkin also stressed that the command staff of the Russian military base was fully cooperating with Armenian law enforcement bodies and the investigation.

Photo: Photolure

On the following day Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan had a meeting with First Deputy Defense Minister of Russia, General of the Army Arkady Bakhin in Gyumri today. Bakhin introduced Ohanyan to the measures taken by the Russian Defense Ministry’s commission in order to detect regarding the crime in Gyumri.

The lying in repose ceremony took place in Gyumri on January 15. The funeral was attended by Armenian parliament speaker Galust Sahakyan, Prosecutor General Gevorg Kostanyan, and MPs.

Photo: Photolure

Gevorg Kostanyan addressed the thousands of protesters in Gyumri, announced he would send a written request to the Prosecutor General of Russia demanding to transfer the legal Valeriy Permyakov to the Armenian justice.

“I give a man’s word that I will definitely make that demand to the Russian Prosecutor General,” he said.

On the same day Ambassador Ivan Volynkin addressed the citizens of Armenia, saying:

“The funeral of the Avetisyans family was held in Gyumri today. I would like to once again express condolence to the relatives and friends of the innocent victims of the criminal act which any normal human being can’t grasp. Such atrocities have no justifications. They belong to no nationality or state. All the associates of the Embassy share the pain of the loss with the brotherly people of Armenia and mourn together with them. I am sure the criminal will be punished to the fullest extent of the law. The Armenian and Russian law enforcement bodies are holding a joint investigation. It will be objective and comprehensive. I have no doubts about it.There were tough pages in the centuries-long history of Russian-Armenian friendship, but we always overcame the hurdles with joint efforts and support for each other. I believe that will be the case now too.”

Photo: Photolure

On January 18 the Armenian and Russian Presidents held a conversation over the phone.

“President Vladimir Putin again expressed condolences to the relatives of the killed as well as the whole Armenian people regarding the tragedy in Gyumri, where an entire family was murdered several days ago. The Russian President has expressed the confidence that all the necessary investigative actions will be taken as soon as possible and the perpetrators will be prosecuted according to the law. Vladimir Putin has also expressed the hope that Russian doctors sent to Gyumri will provide the necessary qualified treatment to the 6-month-old survivor of the tragedy Seryozha Avetisyan. The Russian President has also assured his Armenian counterpart that if needed, Russia would be ready to send a medical aircraft to take the infant to Moscow for further treatment,” the Kremlin said in a press statement.

On January 19, Seryozha Avetisyan died.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan expressed his condolences on the death of the 6-month-old child.

“We did not manage to save little Seryozha’s life. Despite the efforts taken by Armenian and Russian highly-qualified specialists, we lost him. The light, our only consolation after the Gyumri atrocity that let us fill the irrevocable gap to some extent, has faded. Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to save him despite doing everything possible and impossible,” said Sargsyan.

The Erdogan-Sargsyan correspondence

On January 16 Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan responded to the invitation of his Turkish counterpart to the festivities, scheduled for April 24 to commemorate the centennial of the Çanakkale battle. According to the Turkish press, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan extended invitations to 102 leaders including Sargsyan and U.S. President Barack Obama.

In particular, Sargsyan’s response read:

“Alas, Turkey continues its traditional policy of denialism, “improving” its tools of history distortion year by year. This time Turkey marks the anniversary of the Battle of Gallipoli on April 24 for the first time, while it actually began on March 18, 1915 and lasted till late January, 1916. Furthermore, allies’ land campaign- the Gallipoli land battle - took place on April 25, 1915. What purpose does it serve if not a simple-minded goal to distract the attention of the international community from the events dedicated to the centennial of the Armenian Genocide? Whereas, before organizing a commemorative event, Turkey has much more important obligation towards its own people and the entire humanity, namely the recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide. Hence, when calling for international peace I would advise you not to forget sending a message to the world to recognize the Armenian Genocide, thus paying a tribute to the memory of 1.5 million innocent victims.”

Ara Tadevosyan