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: FEBRUARY 10-23, 2005
Armenia is concerned
At the meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan on 17 February 2005, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia would take into account Armenia's interests and refrain from actions that could damage them during the implementation of regional transport projects.
Lavrov made the remark in response to Andranik Margaryan’s concern that the Kazvin-Resht-Astara railway, designed within the framework of the North-South international transport corridor, would bypass Armenia.
Russian and Armenian Foreign Ministers Sergey Lavrov and Vartan Oskanyan on February 17, 2005 Photo: Photolure
Sergey Lavrov added he would inform Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin and head of Russian Railways Gennady Fadeev about Armenian Prime Minister's concern.
The confession of David Harutyunyan
On February 23 Minister of Justice of Armenia David Harutyunyan admitted that the country did not have completely independent courts deserving public trust.
He also pointed out huge work had been over the last few years done for reformation of the judiciary and significant progress had been achieved. According to him, the main task at the time was to make the results of the reforms irreversible.
“We cannot wait until the democracy in our country is 200 years old to have a normal judicial system,” said Harutyunyan, noting that Armenia’s leadership had a political will to make the judicial system completely independent.
• 10 YEARS AGO: FEBRUARY 10-23, 2010
After you, Turkey
On 10 February 20110 Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan stated that the National Assembly of Armenia would ratify the Armenian-Turkish protocols only after Turkey.
Speaking at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), Sargsyan said:
“As the leader of the party, which holds the majority of seats in the Armenian parliament, I guarantee that the protocols will be ratified in the National Assembly if they are ratified in Turkey.”
Serzh Sargsyan speaks at the Chatham House Photo: President’s press office
The Armenian President recalled the statements of Turkish leaders that the Turkish parliament was an independent body and the results of the ratification process were “unpredictable”. “Against the background of such statements, ratification of the protocols by our parliament before the analogous decision in Turkey will look strange. What if the Armenian parliament ratifies the protocols and the Turkish parliament does not?” he noted.
Serzh Sargsyan added he intended to invite Azerbaijani President to the ceremony of opening of the Armenian-Turkish, if it ever took place. “By this, I want to show the Azerbaijani President that problems, which seem unsolvable, can actually be solved,” he said.
Diplomatic School
On February 15, the Diplomatic School opened in Yerevan.
Russia, EU and OSCE all rendered assistance in establishment of the school. The opening ceremony was attended by President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, as well as heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Yerevan.
Photo: Photolure
• 5 YEARS AGO: FEBRUARY 10-23, 2015
Serzh Sargsyan vs. Gagik Tsarukyan
On 12 February 2015 President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan harshly criticized leader of Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) Gagik Tsarukyan and signed the decree dismissing him from the National Security Council.
Serzh Sargsyan noted that “having been in power for many years, Gagik Tsarukyan has declared himself an alternative, considering himself a savior for no apparent reason”.
“It means that he not only lacks understanding of state, society, sociology and politics, but also confuses life with a circus. But we cannot turn our motherland into a circus. We should eradicate the feudal logic from our political field once and for all. We will greatly damage our country, economy and people by “half measures”,” said Sargsyan.
Gagik Tsarukyan and Serzh SargsyanPhoto: Photolure
“Gagik Tsarukyan the political player has become an evil for our country. And it is only natural. Someone with access to relevant mechanisms for participation in political processes and low intellectual capacities automatically hinders any development,” stressed Sargsyan. He also called the fact that Gagik Tsarukyan had significant political ambitions “a tragedy” and “a farce”.
Gagik Tsarukyan vs. Serzh Sargsyan
Gagik Tsarukyan responded to Serzh Sargsyan’s remarks on February 13, criticizing the authorities in general and the President in particular. The issues he mentioned concerned domestic and foreign policy as well as the social and economic situation in Armenia.
“The current situation, which formed yesterday, demands resolution. I am sure that complete change of the power through early presidential elections is our only option,” said Tsarukyan.
The “urgent rally” announcement
Following the meeting of Gagik Tsarukyan, Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Raffi Hovhanisyan on February 15, Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) Armenian National Congress (ANC) and Heritage Party announced they would hold “urgent rally” at Freedom Square in Yerevan on February 20.
Photo: Photolure
“Together with the citizens of Armenia, we will make the decision on resolving the current situation,” read the joint press statement.
Kocharyan comments
On the following day former Armenian president Robert Kocharyan commented on the Sargsyan-Tsarukyan conflict.
“I can’t explain why the President needed to do it. If the aim was to exert pressure on Gagik Tsarukyan and thus demoralize his party, it did not work. On the contrary, the opposition demonstrates distinct signs of unification as the vocabulary and goals grow more radical. PAP has not been discredited, the arguments are weak. Any action against PAP now will be considered illegitimate persecution,” said Kocharyan.
“The intentions that the ruling party voiced at the session of RPA board do not comply with the Constitution of Armenia. PAP and the opposition are literally being forced to organize mass protests with unpredictable ramifications. The arrests and repressive actions will lead the country into a deep and long-lasting crisis. Our country is overloaded with grave issues as it is and their solution is only possible through broad unification of the society and restoration of people’s faith in future. However, unfortunately, pushed the country in the opposite direction,” noted Robert Kocharyan.
Tsarukyan backs down
On February 18 Gagik Tsarukyan stated that “we shouldn’t fight against each other but work peacefully without offending each other to solve the problems in Armenia”.
“It pains me to say that recent developments have been passing in the completely opposite atmosphere. It’s a direction which leads to no good place. It is not hard to imagine what current processes will lead to within a few weeks. No one will benefit from it, our people first of all. We cannot go on this way. Afterwards, we will blame ourselves for it. The life and dignity of each of our citizens are dear to me. Not a single goal can justify the blood of even one innocent person. The authorities and the opposition must not step outside the reasonable borders. All issues should be addressed in a peaceful, legal and political way,” said Tsarukyan.
Serzh Sargsyan and Gagik TsarukyanPhoto: Photolure
On the same day, Prosperous Armenia cancelled the rally scheduled for February 20.
The correspondence of Ter-Petrosyan and Sargsyan
On February 11 First President of Armenia, Leader of Armenian National Congress (ANC) Levon Ter-Petrosyan criticized the Pan-Armenian Declaration.
“Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” newspaper published the op-ed by Levon Ter-Petrosyan, “Reflections on the Promulgation of the “Pan-Armenian Declaration on the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide””.
The ANC leader noted that no matter how representative the committee coordinating Armenian Genocide Centennial events was, it could not reflect the united will of the Armenian people. He stated that only a pan-Armenian referendum could express the united will of the Armenians, however, “the referendum is impossible due to evident reasons”.
Levon Ter-Petrosyan particularly criticized Point 3 of the Declaration, in which the Committee thanked the countries and organizations that had recognized the Armenian Genocide.
Levon Ter-Petrosyan Photo: Photolure
“It’s but provincialism putting Armenian people in a degrading situation,” wrote Levon Ter-Petrosyan. “The recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide does not require courage from any state or international organization inasmuch as it’s their commitment fixed by international conventions, so being thanked for it should be even insulting to them,” said Ter-Petrosyan.
On February 17 he published an open letter to President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan.
In particular, it read:
“Since I don’t think that expressing my concerns is enough, I would like to come up with a practical offer – let’s meet tete-a-tete at the time and on terms most suitable for you in order to exchange views on this issue. In order to have a productive meeting, I believe we should consider setting up a consulting commission tasked with final specification of Armenia’s stance on the Armenian Genocide. The commission’s work should produce a new address devised on the basis of the original Declaration on the Armenian Genocide Centennial, which will be addressed on behalf of the Armenian President to the UN Secretary General, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, President of the European Union, and heads of states around the world.”
Serzh Sargsyan responded to the letter on February 20.
His response read in particular:
“Thank you for the concerns you expressed in your February 17 open letter. I should directly say that I do not accept your evaluation of the Pan-Armenian Declaration on the Armenian Genocide. I do not accept it not because of its being the first document adopted after the independence and authored by the representatives of almost all structures and communities representing all Armenians and thus, truly being a unique symbol of national consolidation, but because a number of most professional experts from all corners of the world were involved in the drafting. These are people whose vocational skills I trust.”
Sargsyan added:
“I am ready to extend an invitation whenever you think there is a need for a private talk on Armenian Genocide Centennial events.”
The meeting never took place.
Recalling the protocols
On February 16, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan informed President of the National Assembly Galust Sahakyan about his decision to recall Armenian-Turkish protocols from the National Assembly.
The letter from the President read in particular:
“Around six years have passed since the Armenian-Turkish protocols were signed. Over this period of time, Armenia has demonstrated consistent approach to implementation of the protocols. However, we should attest the lack of political will of the Turkish authorities, distortion of the spirit and letter of the protocols and the ongoing statements concerning preconditions. Along with that, ahead of the Armenian Genocide Centennial the policy of denial and editing the history is gaining a new momentum. Time and again, including from the UN General Assembly’s rostrum in September 2014, I have stated that time is not interminable. It’s a pity Turkish leadership did not lend an ear to Armenia’s calls.”
Ara Tadevosyan
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