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: SEPTEMBER 27-OCTOBER 3, 2006

“A very important opportunity” lost

On September 27 EU Special Representative to the South Caucasus Peter Semneby stated in an interview to Mediamax, that “this year Armenia and Azerbaijan have lost a very important opportunity for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict”.

“If I had to mention my biggest disappointment in my first half a year as the EU Special Representative in the South Caucasus it would be the failure of Armenia and Azerbaijan to reach the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. I think that very important opportunity has been lost,” Peter Semneby said.

“I don’t want to put blame on any side, but I think that both Armenia and Azerbaijan should think about the dangers and costs of not reaching a solution. For Armenia there are quite obvious huge costs. Armenia’s relative isolation is a direct consequence of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict,” Peter Semneby stated.

Peter Semneby and Armenian President Robert Kocharyan

Photo: Photolure

Answering to Mediamax’s question about whether he thinks that Armenia’s involvement in the major regional projects could have made Yerevan more ready for some compromises, Peter Semneby said:

“I am not saying how the things should be ideally; I am just stating the fact. This is the reality that Armenia has to live with, and these are the costs that Armenia has to take into account when it weights the costs and the benefits of the current situation. There will be costs of the settlement as well, because it will mean painful compromises. So these costs will have to be weight against the costs of the continuing isolation. I very much hope that in this calculus Armenian leadership and the population would come to a conclusion on that it is more beneficial for Armenia to settle the conflict despite the costs this will entail.”

The EU Special Representative noted that he is noticing a growing harsher rhetoric in the domestic discussion in Azerbaijan, “and this increases the risk of any kind of incident along the contact line developing into more serious confrontation”.

Olli Rehn’s call

On September 26 EU Enlargement Commissioner, Olli Rehn, urged Turkey to take up concrete steps for the reconciliation with Armenia.

Olli Rehn and Turkey’s chief EU negotiator Ali Babacan in 2006

Photo: REUTERS

“An open and constructive exchange of views is needed in Turkey, including the most sensitive issues. This is necessary both for the democratic process in Turkey and for facing tomorrow's challenges, as well as for Turkey's reconciliation with its neighbors, including Armenia. Reconciliation is a principle that is both the origin and the outcome of the European integration project. I therefore urge Turkey to continue to take concrete steps in this direction”, Olli Rehn stated speaking in the European Parliament during the discussion of the report on Turkey.

“Just and reasonable”

The French President Jacques Chirac described the latest proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as “just, balanced and reasonable.”

The French President said this in an interview, published on September 28 in “Hayastani Hanrapetutiun” newspaper.

Jacques Chirac said that “we have been very close to the settlement of the conflict more than once - in Paris, Key West and in Rambouillet”.

“I was saying to the Presidents Kocharian and Aliyev, that the proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group seem to me just, balanced and reasonable. I wish Yerevan and Baku show courage, necessary for reaching peace,” the French President said.

Jacques Chirac highlighted that “today the G8 states and the international community are ready to be the guarantors of the peace agreement.”

The Square of France

On September 30 the Armenian and French Presidents Robert Kocharian and Jacques Chirac inaugurated the Square of France in the center of Yerevan – at the intersection of Sayat-Nova and Mashtots avenues.

Robert Kocharian and Jacques Chirac on September 30, 2006

Photo: Photolure

On behalf of the French people Jacques Chirac expressed thankfulness to the Armenian authorities for the decision to open a Square of France in the center of Yerevan. According to him, this square will become the best symbol of the friendly Armenian-French relations. The French President stated that his state visit to Yerevan is “the evidence of my confidence in Armenia and its future”.

Talking about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, Jacques Chirac urged Yerevan and Baku to make the “last steps,” necessary for the settlement of peace. “Today, I believe in the possibility of peace settlement,” the President of France stressed.

•    10 YEARS AGO: SEPTEMBER 27-OCTOBER 3, 2011

“Foundations of oligopoly”

On September 27 Germany’s Ambassador to Armenia Hans-Johan Schmidt stated that the foundations of “oligopoly” which is often criticized by the first President were laid down in the period of Levon Ter-Petrosian’s presidency.

Schmidt noted that Levon Ter-Petrosian criticizes the elections which were held in Armenia after he had resigned as president.

Hans-Johan Schmidt

Photo: Photolure

“Once I asked his assistant: what about the elections held during your presidency, about persecutions in 1995-1996, and the answer was as follows: “Where did you get such information?” But one should be sincere,” the Ambassador said during discussions organized by “Civilitas” Foundation.

“Of course, nobody likes “oligarch” and “oligopoly” words but it was in the period of Levon Ter-Petrosian’s presidency that the foundations of “oligopolized” economy were laid down in Armenia. And one should accept that,” Hans-Johan Schmidt concluded.

Robert Kocharyan: “I don’t rule out my return to big politics”

On September 30 Armenian’s Second President Robert Kocharyan said in the interview to Mediamax that he doesn’t rule out the possibility of his return to big politics.

Robert Kocharyan said this commenting on the fact that the topic of his return to big politics became one of the main themes on the internal political agenda, and the fact that Vladimir Putin is going to run for the post of Russian President in 2012 aroused a stream of discussions about the impact of this step on political processes in Armenia and on political perspectives of the second President in particular.

“I am amazed that my possible return is linked to political processes in Russia. And this happens immediately after the celebration of the 21st anniversary of Armenia’s independence? I am sure political processes should ripen here in Armenia, and not be directly projected from outside.

I don’t rule out the possibility of my return to big politics. However, only three major factors may force me to return and not the events going on in other country which is very close and important for Armenia. These three factors are:

1. the absence of a tangible and stable improvement of the situation in country’s economy and people’s welfare, and consequently the growth of hopeless moods and migration;

2. the demand for my return to big politics by various layers of the society;

3. my inner believe that I can radically improve the situation.

The ways of return to active politics may vary given these three factors.

Other circumstances only add a political resource but are not fundamental,” Robert Kocharyan said.

•    5 YEARS AGO: SEPTEMBER 27-OCTOBER 3, 2016

New Ministers

On September 27 President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan signed several decrees on appointment of new ministers.

Suren Karayan was appointed Minsiter of Economy, Levon Altunyan took the position of Minister of Healthcare, Artsvik Minasyan was appointed Minister of Nature, Hrachya Rostomyan was appointed Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs and Armen Amiryan was appointed Minister of Culture.

We can’t make “proper country” without fighting “shadow”

Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan said at a meeting with entrepreneurs on September 28, “If we don’t fight shadow economy, we won’t make a proper country.”

“We set a goal to change the principle attitude towards entrepreneurs. We will try to show with our every effort that we are your partners. We are ready to register all raised issues regularly and do everything to make our joint work as transparent as possible,” Karen Karapetyan said.

“Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders aren’t ready”

On September 29 US Secretary of State John Kerry said that Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders aren’t ready to settle the NK issue.

“There are frozen conflicts in the world today. Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan-Armenia, where you can’t quite see that [progress] right now because the leaders aren’t ready, because the tensions are there,” US Secretary of State said.

Vigen Sargsyan and Armen Gevorgyan got new jobs

On October 3 President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan signed decrees on relieving Vigen Sargsyan of his duties as Head of President Staff and appointing him the Minister of Defense of Armenia.

By another decree of the President, Armen Gevorgyan was relieved of his duties as Secretary of Armenian National Security Council and appointed the Head of Staff of Armenian President.

Photo: Armenian President’s press office

“I wish to thank Vigen Sargsyan for the efforts on his now former position, and I wish to say honestly that Vigen Sargsyan displayed his organizational skills at this job, and did it in the best way,” President Sargsyan said.

Serzh Sargsyan highly appreciated the events of national importance that Vigen Sargsyan organized and coordinated, and expressed his confidence that he will meet all expectations as Defense Minister as well.

Photo: Armenian President’s press office

“Vigen, I congratulate you once again and I wish you good luck. I don’t have to mention that the advance of our country and of course, further strengthening of the defense sector will be conditioned by your actions as well,” the President said.

Photo: Armenian President’s press office

Serzh Sargsyan noted expressed conviction that Armen Gevorgyan will display his strong will at the new position the same as he did in his previous office. “Armen Gevorgyan will be able to raise the potential of this team and our country by another level,” the President said.

Ara Tadevosyan