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: MARCH 18-24, 2004

“Restoration of justice”

On March 18, 2004 Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said that Aghvan Hovsepyan’s appointment as Prosecutor General could be considered “restoration of justice” in a way.

While introducing Aghvan Hovsepyan to the senior officials at the General Prosecutor’s Office, Kocharyan explained that Hovsepyan’s resignation after the terrorist act in Armenian Parliament in 1999 “was caused by exclusively political reasons.”

The President described the new Prosecutor General as a “professional, strong person and a man of principle”, noting that they had been familiar with each other since 1981 as Aghvan Hovsepyan had worked in Nagorno-Karabakh for many years.

Dismantling of the old pyramid

On the following day Robert Kocharyan stated that the Armenian leadership intended to maintain the policy of decentralization of power.

“It is obvious that the government must not solve the problems of everyday necessities. It is natural that the government should ensure the realization of credit programs in the sphere of water supply, heat supply, etc. However, the functions for their realization should be passed to the local self-governing bodies. We are not inventing anything new, the whole world follows this path. We have inherited a centralized power pyramid from the Soviet times, which we are dismantling step-by-step,” he noted.

Robert Kocharyan on March 19, 2004

Photo: Photolure

“Serious potential for a conflict”

Additionally, Robert Kocharyan noted on March 19 that he believed it was necessary to adopt a law on the status of Yerevan.

Touching on whether the mayor of Yerevan should be elected by people or appointed by the president, Kocharyan noted that “one third of Armenia’s population lives in Yerevan, and if the Mayor is representative of the opposition political force, it will bear rather serious potential for a conflict”.

He pointed out that the issue should become a topic of comprehensive discussions and that “if Yerevan Mayor’s post becomes elective, we have to consider certain mechanisms of containment, which will allow us to stabilize the situation in case of possible political confrontations”.

•    10 YEARS AGO: MARCH 18-24, 2009

The conflict with SCR

On March 19, 2009 General Director of South Caucasus Railroad CJSC (SCR) Shevket Shaidullin said that the remarks by Armenian Minister of Transport concerning the SCR “might undermine the public image of a large-scale project, implemented by two friendly countries, Armenia and Russia”.

Shevket Shaidullin

Photo: Photolure

In an open letter to Minister of Transport and Communication of Armenia Gurgen Sargsyan, Shaidullin expressed his discontent with Sargsyan’s remarks that the investment program of SCR was fulfilled only by 28% in 2008.

Gurgen Sargsyan

Photo: Photolure

“The form of the dialogue you have adopted does not provide for constructiveness and effectiveness. The problems the railroad transport of Armenia faces are so complex as to require constant attention and consideration,” he said.

•    5 YEARS AGO: MARCH 18-24, 2014

“Our army is as combat ready as ever”

On March 21, 2014 Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan held a meeting with the senior officials of the Foreign Ministry.

Serzh Sargsyan at Armenian MFA, March 2014

Photo: President’s Press Office

“We have to view any situation from the perspective of results. I assume we are much more secure now than five years before thanks to our international relations, integration, as well as the quantity and quality of our allies. Our army is as well-equipped and combat ready as ever. Within my recollection, there has never been such certainty in Karabakh issue. We have a certain quality: we are not trying to deceive or outsmart anyone,” he said.

Sargsyan and Putin discuss the Crimea referendum

On March 19, Russian and Armenian Presidents respectively Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin agreed during a phone conversation that the referendum in Crimea was “another example of realization of the right of peoples of self-determination through the free expression of will”.

Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin

Photo: Photolure

On the following day U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Jon Heffern pointed out that the U.S. and NATO took extensive efforts for peaceful settlement of Ukrainian crisis proposing numerous options of peaceful resolution of the conflict, which were rejected by Russia. “I regret that Armenia made such a statement,” said Heffern.

Ukrainian MFA makes demands

On March21, the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine demanded from Armenia to reconsider its decision on Crimea.

“We are disappointed with the statements concerning Armenia’s stance. We have invited the Armenian Ambassador to Ukraine for a discussion twice already and reported our concerns to him. The relevant instructions were given to our Embassy in Armenia. Today, we have sent a note to the Armenian side requesting to provide all the necessary explanations on Armenia’s official position,” said Deputy Foreign Minister Danilo Lubkivski.

Ara Tadevosyan