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: JANUARY 24-31, 2007

Mediators argue

OSCE Minsk Group Russian Co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov answering the question on the settlement of the Kosovo conflict on January 25, stated that “it will become a precedent, as for the first time in the European territory the case concerns a former autonomy.”

The French and the U.S. Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group Bernard Fassier and Matthew Bryza opposed using the Kosovo model of the settlement as a universal one.

Bernard Fassier, Matthew Bryza and Yuri Merzlyakov

Photo: REUTERS

“Each conflict has its peculiarities and complications and for each of them a certain solution should be found,” Matthew Bryza stated.

Mediators encouraged  

On January 29 the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs stated that they are “encouraged by the constructive approach of the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan as they seek to finalize a set of basic principles for the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.”

“The presidents are defending their national interests vigorously, and they are doing so in a way that allows the peace process to continue moving forward,” the statement read.

•    10 YEARS AGO: JANUARY 24-31, 2012

Secretary General of the Council of Europe has “no position”

On January 24 Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland stated that he had no position on the issue of the Armenian Genocide and legislative initiatives on criminalization of its denial.

Thorbjorn Jagland

Photo: REUTERS

“As Secretary General of the Council of Europe, I do not have a position on this. I do not want to comment, on behalf of the entire Organization and of course the member countries, on the discussion in France. But in my past capacities as Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Norway, and as Speaker of the Parliament and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee there, I always took the stand that history is for historians and history books, and I was not in favor of taking political decisions on historical events. I note that the Turkish Government has proposed to set up a commission composed of historians in order to come forward with its views on this issue, and that it will accept the recommendations from such a commission. I do not have a stance on that either. It is up to national parliaments and governments to take a position on it. It has not been discussed anywhere in the Council of Europe,” stated the Secretary General of the Council of Europe in response to the question of Naira Zohrabyan, member of the Armenian Delegation to PACE.

Don’t open “dangerous doors”

On January 26 Secretary of State Hillary Clinton commented on the bill passed by the French Senate, criminalizing the denial of genocides, including the Armenian Genocide.

She said the U.S. administration was wary of compromising free speech. She said the issue was best left for scholars.

“To try to use government power to resolve historical issues I think, opens a door that is a very dangerous one to go through,” Clinton said at an event with U.S. State Department employees.

Hillary Clinton

Photo: REUTERS

On January 30 commenting on the French Senates’ bill criminalizing the denial of genocides including the Armenian Genocide, Turkey’s Minister for EU Affairs Egemen Bagis said that these laws are nothing but a “piece of paper.” At the meeting with the journalists in Zurich, Bagis said: “We are today in Switzerland and I am saying the 1915 incidents were not Genocide. Let them come and arrest me.”

“Impressive level of weaponry”

On January 28 Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan made a congratulatory address on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the creation of the Armed Forces of Armenia.

“Let’s recall that at the beginning we were counting arms and even bullets, while today we have an impressive level of weaponry. We have dug trenches meter by meter, hundreds of kilometers of military fortifications; we have constructed thousands of apartments for the servicemen and a respectable building for the Ministry of Defense. We have created a military-industrial complex and created a worthy image of the army. We have done all this together, the entire nation.”

•    5 YEARS AGO: JANUARY 24-31, 2017

Hovik Abrahamyan leaves

On January 25 former Prime Minister of Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan announced the termination of his membership in the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA).

“Announcing termination of my membership in the Republican Party of Armenia, I have made one of the toughest and most important decisions in my life. I have considered this decision for quite a long time. Honestly, it was not an easy choice for me, as I dedicated about two decades to this party, a considerable segment of my life,” Hovik Abrahamyan’s statement reads.

Hovik Abrahamyan

Photo: Photolure

I am leaving RPA, but I will continue my active political activity, as I am convinced that I have enough energy, knowledge and experience to serve our country and people. I will continue to live and work for Armenia,” Hovik Abrahamyan said.

“Elite needs to change”

On January 26 Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan believes that “if the society has complaints about the elite, the latter needs to change.”

“The elite performs as the face of the society and the nation in a way. And if the society has complaints, misunderstandings or problems with the elite, the latter needs to change,” Prime Minister said.

While commenting on Armenian President’s statement that he ties success of the reforms to the name of the Prime Minister, Karen Karapetyan said:

“If the President calls me a reformer, it’s a responsibility for me first and foremost. In any case I must organize my efforts in a certain way, so that not only the President brands me a reformer.”

Ara Tadevosyan