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: NOVEMBER 18-24, 2004

The EU has the chance

On 19 November Armenian President Robert Kocharyan stated in Berlin that there was a chance to lessen the tension in the Armenian-Turkish relations, which could and ought to be used by the European Union (EU).

He noted that the chance came up after the European Commission's report which recommended launching talks on Turkey's accession to the EU and Armenia's inclusion into the European Neighbourhood Policy.

“I consider it abnormal when a country pursuing EU membership maintains the blockade of a country involved in the European Neighbourhood Policy,” Kocharyan pointed out.

Pashinyan vs. Tsarukyan

In the evening of November 22, the car of Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper chief editor Nikol Pashinyan was burned down.

The newspaper reported that the “Niva” was parked near the building of the editorial office and flared up after a blow heard at around 20:40.

Nikol Pashinyan

Photo: K.Mirzoyan

Pashinyan stated immediately after the incident that he considered head of Multi Group concern, MP and businessman Gagik Tsarukyan to be responsible for the crime. According to Pashinyan, his motivation could be the “Haykakan Zhamanak” articles criticizing Tsarukyan.

Gagik Tsarukyan denied all accusations and called on the law-enforcement bodies to investigate the incident. The police said in a press statement that Pashinyan’s car caught fire because of failures in the accumulator.

•    10 YEARS AGO: NOVEMBER 18-24, 2009

Medvedev is pleased

On 18 November Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said he was pleased with cooperation with the European Union regarding the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Speaking at the press conference in Stockholm following the Russia-EU Summit, he said:

“We also discussed a range of issues related to Transcaucasia. Frankly speaker, here our stances differ and this should be openly admitted. Mr. Prime Minister of Sweden has spoken about it, and I will only add that there is still difference of opinion between us, but this is not a reason to dramatize the situation.

Dmitry Medvedev and Jose Manuel Barroso after the Russia-EU Summit in Stockholm

Photo: REUTERS

On the contrary, we should bring the stances closer and seek ways to stabilize the rather complex situation we have in Transcaucasia at the moment. But there are good ways as well, good examples of cooperation. In particular, we discussed the process between Azerbaijan and Armenia on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement. There are positive shifts. This is an example of how we can cooperate.”

“We have a lot of work to do”

Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents held “deep and constructive” talks in Munich on November 22, OSCE Minsk Group French Co-chair Bernard Fassier said after the meeting.

Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents in Munich on November 22, 2009

Photo: Armenian President’s press office

“The given meeting between the Presidents is the sixth this year, and this is an unprecedented index in the history of the negotiation process and evidence of the dynamic and serious nature of the negotiation process. Today’s meeting was especially long, since it featured a constructive and detailed discussion of elements, around which the sides have yet to reach agreement. Some of those elements were discussed so deeply for the first time. It is important that we have received instructions from the Presidents to solve those problems, and we have a lot of work to do in the next few weeks and months,” he said.

Mediators brief the press in Munich on November 22, 2009

Photo: Armenian President’s press office

U.S. mediator Robert Bradtke noted that he was “impressed by the depth and the seriousness of the meeting and the readiness of the Presidents to discuss complex issues”.

•    5 YEARS AGO: NOVEMBER 18-24, 2014

Remains of MI-24 crew evacuated

On November 21, NKR Defense Army conducted a special operation to evacuate the remains of the crew from the area where MI-24 helicopter crashed.

Photo: Photolure

The Defense Army said in a press service that it decided to carry out the special operation “taking into account Azerbaijan’s official statements and lack of sense in them”.

Ara Tadevosyan