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: JUNE 22-28, 2005

“New encouraging prospects”

On June 22 OSCE Minsk Group Russian Co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov stated that “new encouraging prospects” emerged during the talks of Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Paris.

The Russian mediator told Trend agency that the Mamedyarov-Oskanian meeting was “very positive.”

Mediators meet Armenian President Robert Kocharyan

Photo: Photolure

“The positive impulse given at the meeting of presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Warsaw is preserved. The talks will continue during our visit to the region”, Yuri Merzlyakov said. At the same time, according to the Russian Co-chair, there were issues “difficult to discuss” at the Paris talks and “they failed to agree on some of the aspects.”

Babayan’s plans

On June 24 Former Defense Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh Samvel Babayan stated that he was going to establish “a healthy political force in Armenia aiming to change the current regime in the country and form a completely independent judicial system.”

According to Babayan, he was ready for a principal, mutually respectful cooperation both with governmental and opposition forces of Armenia. At the same time, he turned down the opportunity of nominating his candidacy for 2008 presidential elections in Armenia.

Samvel Babayan attends NDU party congress on June 24, 2005

Photo: Photolure

Babayan added that “only idiots” could speak about holding democratic elections in an unrecognized republic which was “in a state of war.” He also noted he did not participate in the June 19 parliamentary elections in Karabakh because “the solutions for Nagorno-Karabakh are decided in Yerevan and not in Stepanakert.”

•    10 YEARS AGO: JUNE 22-28, 2010

The diversion by Azerbaijan

On June 22 the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group Igor Popov, Bernard Fassier and Robert Bradtke released a joint statement, in which they strongly condemned the attack of the Azerbaijani armed group on the night of June 18-19 in the northern section of the contact line, which resulted in the death of 4 and injury of 4 soldiers of NKR Defense Army.

The statement read that the incident took place immediately after the meeting between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, held in St. Petersburg on June 17, and noted that “the use of military force, particularly at this moment, can only be seen as an attempt to damage the peace process”.

“Now they need to take the next step”

On June 17 Presidents of Russia, the USA and France issued a joint statement on Nagorno-Karabakh at G8 Summit.

“We, the Presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group's Co-Chair countries, France, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America, reaffirm our commitment to support the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan as they finalize the Basic Principles for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

We welcome as a significant step the recognition by both sides that a lasting settlement must be based upon the Helsinki Principles and the elements that we proposed in connection with our statement at the L’Aquila Summit of the Eight on July 10, 2009, relating to: the return of the occupied territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh, interim status for Nagorno-Karabakh guaranteeing security and self-governance, a corridor linking Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh; final status of Nagorno-Karabakh to be determined in the future by a legally-binding expression of will, the right of all internally-displaced persons and refugees to return, and international security guarantees, including a peacekeeping operation.

Now the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan need to take the next step and complete the work on the Basic Principles to enable the drafting of a peace agreement to begin,” the statement read.

G8 Summit participants

Photo: REUTERS

Official Yerevan welcomed the statement of the USA, France and Russia on Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian stated soon after.

“It is important that the statement is re-endorsing those principles which had several times been proclaimed by Armenia as basic principles for the conflict settlement,” he said.

“The upcoming days will show whether Azerbaijan is ready to move by that route or whether it would continue its bellicose stance attempting to fail the negotiation process through new provocations and unconstructive steps,” added Nalbandian.

•    5 YEARS AGO: JUNE 22-28, 2015

Police pushes protesters off the streets

Early in the morning of June 23 the police dispersed the young participants of the sit-down strike, who were protesting against the increase of electricity prices.

The police used water trucks and physical force against the protesters. According to various reports, around 200 people were detained.  The police dispersed the protesters not only on Baghramyan Avenue but at Freedom Square as well.

Ara Tadevosyan