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: AUGUST 26 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2004

The call to EU

On 27 August, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan stated that the European Union must play its role in the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.

Speaking at the joint briefing with his Danish counterpart Per Stig Moeller, Oskanyan said that in case of establishing equal relations with all countries of the South Caucasus, Turkey would play a special role in the region as the only NATO member bordering on Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan at the same time, and the only country of the region with the official status of a candidate for joining the European Union.

•    10 YEARS AGO: AUGUST 26 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2009

The Armenian-Turkish process

On 31 August, Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Turkey and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs issued a joint statement, which read:

“The Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey have agreed to start their internal political consultations on the two protocols – the “Protocol on the establishment of diplomatic relations” and the “Protocol on the development of bilateral relations” – which have been initiated in the course of their efforts under Swiss mediation.

The two Protocols provide for a framework for the normalization of their bilateral relations within a reasonable timeframe. The political consultations will be completed within six weeks, following which the two Protocols will be signed and submitted to the respective Parliaments for the ratification on each side. Both sides will make their best efforts for the timely progression of the ratification in line with their constitutional and legal procedures.

The normalization of bilateral relations will contribute to the regional peace and stability. The Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey are committed are pursuing their joint efforts with the assistance of Switzerland.”

Abdullah Gul, Ahmet Davutoglu and Serzh Sargsyan

Photo: Photolure

On the following day, speaking at the meeting of ambassadors and the central apparatus of the Foreign Ministry, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan remarked:

“As I have repeatedly stated, the talks conducted with Turkey and the agreements attained do not contain any precondition related to the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict or any other issue related to that. As we have stressed, the issues on the historical dimension will be discussed not within the committee of historians but rather within one of the sub-commissions of the intergovernmental commission. For the first time in the history of independent Armenia public debates will precede the signing of the most important international documents. The debates will enable to listen to all the views and approaches.”

On the same day, September 1, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that Turkey hoped to open the border with Armenia until the year-end.

“If everything goes according to the plan and reciprocal actions are taken, the border could open by the New Year,” he noted.

On September 1 EU Commissioners Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Olli Rehn welcomed the Armenian-Turkish agreement advancing the process of normalization of bilateral relations.

 “The European Commission attaches high importance to a rapid and steady implementation of the protocols on the establishment of diplomatic relations and on the development of bilateral relations. This agreement should contribute to peace and stability in the South Caucasus,” they said.

Javier Solana

Photo: REUTERS

EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana “welcomed agreement between Turkey and Armenia to start internal political consultations on the protocols providing the framework for establishing diplomatic relations”.

According to him, it was a crucial step towards normalization of bilateral relations, which would greatly contribute to peace, security and stability throughout an important region of Europe. “I commend the courage and vision of both sides to move forward with this historic process. I hope the two protocols can be signed, ratified, and implemented in the near term," said Solana.

“Not a matter of days, weeks, or even months”

Again on September 1, Serzh Sargsyan ordered heads of Armenia’s diplomatic missions “to explain to officials in their host countries that the NK settlement was not a matter of days, weeks, or even months”.

“Everyone must understand clearly that we are negotiating over only some of the basic principles for settlement. Even if the agreement is reached on these, that are still many other principles to be negotiated, and after that – the agreement itself, which will regulate the details for implementation. That process requires huge work,” said Sargsyan.

He underlined that the priority was to ensure security of Nagorno-Karabakh during the negotiation period and achieve a proper understanding of the issue by the international community.

“In this struggle, the Armenian people have been the ones fighting for survival and freedom, and no one has any right to call the people of Artsakh, who defended their right to live with blood, “aggressor”. Our response to that must be forceful, confident, and compelling,” concluded Serzh Sargsyan.

•    5 YEARS AGO: AUGUST 26 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

“Preventive strikes”

On 26 August, Hero of Karabakh war, Major-General Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan said that the Armenian side should “make preventive strikes” against Azerbaijani forces to neutralize the permanent tension on the contact line, initiated by Baku.

Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan

Photo: Photolure

“I don’t call for renewal of military actions at all. As a military specialist, I suggest considered and targeted strikes to achieve high-altitude positions on the contact line. If we don’t do that, the Azerbaijani side will always aggravate the situation on the contact line,” said Ter-Tadevosyan.

Ara Tadevosyan