Levon Ter-Petrosyan vs Sameh Shoukry

Ter-Petrosyan was arrested by Soviet authorities for his role in organizing protests over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He was imprisoned for several months, which increased his popularity among Armenian nationalists and positioned him as a leader of the independence movement.

Ter-Petrosyan co-founded the Armenian National Movement (ANM), a political party that advocated for Armenian independence from the Soviet Union. The ANM became the leading force in the independence movement and later formed the first post-Soviet government.

Levon Ter-Petrosyan was elected the first President of independent Armenia after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, winning 83% of the vote. He led the country through its early years of independence, establishing state institutions and navigating the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Ter-Petrosyan led Armenia during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War against Azerbaijan. Under his leadership, Armenian forces gained control of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding territories, though the war resulted in significant casualties and displacement on both sides.

Ter-Petrosyan resigned as president after facing widespread protests and opposition from key allies over his proposal to compromise on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. His resignation marked a major political shift, leading to the election of Robert Kocharyan.

Shoukry was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, replacing Nabil Fahmy. He became the chief diplomat for Egypt, handling relations with the US, EU, and Arab states.

Shoukry worked to repair US-Egypt relations after the 2013 military ouster of President Mohamed Morsi. He secured the release of US aid and maintained security cooperation, including counterterrorism support.

Shoukry led Egypt's negotiations with Ethiopia and Sudan over the GERD, a massive hydroelectric dam on the Blue Nile. The talks, mediated by the US and World Bank, failed to reach a binding agreement, leading to ongoing tensions.

Shoukry chaired the Arab League's ministerial council, coordinating Arab responses to regional crises, including the Syrian civil war, Libyan conflict, and Yemen war. He advocated for Arab unity and stability.