5/10/15: “Dreams and reveries”, preparations for Kazan, Aliyev’s “childishness” - Mediamax.am

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5/10/15: “Dreams and reveries”, preparations for Kazan, Aliyev’s “childishness”


Araz Azimov
Araz Azimov

Photo: OSCE

Serzh Sargsyan on June 8, 2016
Serzh Sargsyan on June 8, 2016

Photo: Armenian president's press office

Serzh Sargsyan and Miroslav Laicak on June 10, 2011
Serzh Sargsyan and Miroslav Laicak on June 10, 2011

Photo: Armenian government's press office

Tigran Sargsyan on June 9, 2011
Tigran Sargsyan on June 9, 2011

Photo: Armenian government's press office

Tigran Sargsyan on June 9, 2011
Tigran Sargsyan on June 9, 2011

Photo: Armenian government's press office


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 7-13, 2006

 

“The conflict should not be settled on the basis of dreams and reveries”

 

“At current stage the Karabakh settlement depends on Armenia’s position,” President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said on June 9.

 

According to him, “the conflict should be settled not on the basis of some dreams and reveries but within the really existing norms of the international law.”

 

“Azerbaijan will never put up with the occupation of its lands, but we are going to use all possibilities to resolve the conflict peacefully,” he said at a joint press conference with his Lithuanian counterpart Valdas Adamkus.

 

Aliyev described the situation in the region as a “huge humanitarian catastrophe and unfair situation which may entail enormous negative consequences.”

 

•    10 YEARS AGO: JUNE 7-13, 2011

 

Preparations for the Kazan meeting

 

OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs stated in Stepanakert on June 8 the necessity to coordinate Basic Principles of NK conflict settlement in order to draft the peace agreement.

 

Russian Co-chair Igor Popov said that at the upcoming meeting of Armenian, Azerbaijani and Russian Presidents, they planned to discuss the final wordings, which would be presented to the sides at the meeting of the Presidents in Kazan on June 25.

Tigran Sargsyan on June 9, 2011 Tigran Sargsyan on June 9, 2011

Photo: Armenian government's press office

On June 9 Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said that OSCE Minsk Group was “close to success” and the U.S., French and Russian Presidents’ latest statement demonstrated that.

 

“It is necessary that our Azerbaijani partners also demonstrate political will and be ready to sign the agreement, which will become a basis for further negotiations,” Armenian Prime Minister said.

 

On the same day Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Araz Azimov said that he was not especially optimistic ahead of the meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents in Kazan.

Araz Azimov Araz Azimov

Photo: OSCE

“I do not have an optimistic view on what may happen in Kazan. I do not expect an agreement on basic principles in Kazan but I expect some more clarity on the most critical issues,” Azimov said in an interview to Reuters.

 

He noted that “Azerbaijan is ready to show some flexibility.” At that, Azimov said, “We do not transcend the principles of international law, but at the same time we cannot agree to less.”

 

On June 13 President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev stated: “We have to use the last chance” for the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict.”

 

“The Armenian side has stepped back as soon as rapprochement was marked at definite stages. I think today’s variant is the last chance. Various variants have been discussed and tried over these 19 years. As a result of Armenia’s unconstructive position we have failed to reach a peaceful agreement. Now, we have to use the last chance,” Aliyev said.

 

“It makes no sense for Armenia to join the Customs Union”

 

It made no sense for Armenia to join the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan stated on June 9.

 

Speaking at “A look at Russia” session in Vienna, organized by the World Economic Forum, Sargsyan recalled that Armenia had been a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) since 2003 and was carrying out quite a liberal policy of import and export.

Tigran Sargsyan on June 9, 2011 Tigran Sargsyan on June 9, 2011

Photo: Armenian government's press office

“It makes no sense to join a Customs Union we have no common borders with. If we have to communicate with the Customs Union via third countries and pass all customs procedures, it will give no economic effect. Moreover, we will have to revise all our customs duties so that they comply with the duties in Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus,” he said.

 

“We connect our vision of the future fully with EU”

 

On June 10 Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said that “rapprochement with Europe has been one of Armenia’s priorities since the proclamation of independence.”

Serzh Sargsyan and Miroslav Laicak on June 10, 2011 Serzh Sargsyan and Miroslav Laicak on June 10, 2011

Photo: Armenian government's press office

“Rapprochement and cooperation with the EU has always been one of Armenia’s priorities and it gradually acquires greater significance. We realize that this is a mutually beneficial process, and we connect both the reforms carried out in our country and our vision of the future with that cooperation,” Serzh Sargsian noted.

 

•    5 YEARS AGO: JUNE 7-13, 2016

 

CoE urges Azerbaijan to put an end to anti-Armenian propaganda

 

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) of the Council of Europe expressed concerns over continuous hateful rhetoric against Armenians in Azerbaijan in the report published on June 7.

 

“Political leaders, educational institutions and media have continued using hate speech against Armenians; an entire generation of Azerbaijanis has now grown up listening to this hateful rhetoric. Human rights activists working inter alia towards reconciliation with Armenia have been sentenced to heavy prison terms,” the CoE Commission said in the report.

 

The authors of the report noticed that the pardon, release and promotion in 2012 of Ramil Safarov, who had been sentenced in Budapest to life imprisonment for the murder of an Armenian army officer, contributed to a sense of impunity for the perpetrators of racist crimes.

 

The CoE Commission recommended Azerbaijani authorities to put an end to the constant use of hate speech, and rather promote mutual understanding and confidence.

 

Sargsyan is concerned over Aliyev’s “childishness”

 

On June 8 Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan expressed the hope that Ilham Aliyev did not intend to disrupt the agreements reached in Vienna.

Serzh Sargsyan on June 8, 2016 Serzh Sargsyan on June 8, 2016

Photo: Armenian president's press office

He also expressed his concerns over Ilham Aliyev’s “unstable behaviour”.

 

“In particular, the speech he delivered at the event called “4th Congress of World Azerbaijanis”, with cynical definitions of the state of Armenia and personal insults to the President of Armenia with whom he was to discuss issues a few days later, and ideas turning history into a joke left an impression of inadequate perception. I hope that this is a temporary issue, childishness that will pass soon, as we are obliged to work seriously. I also hope that this behavior is not aimed on disrupting the agreements reached in Vienna,” said Serzh Sargsyan.

 

Ara Tadevosyan

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