Ter-Petrosyan: Missed Opportunity in Rehabilitating Armenia’s Political Atmosphere

Former Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosyan.

The following is former President Levon Ter-Petrosyan's essay that appeared on the website iLur.am on February 17. We present the English translation of that essay in its entirety.

On the afternoon of February 12 I submitted a piece to the website iLur.am and the daily Chorrord Ishkhanutyun to be published the following morning. However, when on the evening of February 12, Serzh Sargsyan delivered his famous statement against Gagik Tsarukyan, I immediately recalled the piece from the respective editorial boards because its publication at a time when a new situation had been created, could be interpreted in a whole different way. After much thought however, I came to the conclusion that independent of domestic developments, I didn’t have the right to conceal from society a very important issue which relates to the vital interests of all Armenians, Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Thereby, although late, at any rate, I want to present this topic to society that I had entitled 'Open Letter to Serzh Sargsyan.'

The following is the full text:

First of all, I apologize that I am writing to you not through confidential channels but rather with an open letter, something which is conditioned by two simple factors:

1. If I had communicated to you through other means, my move, whose essence I will clarify below, would be in danger of attracting various rumors and suspicion.
2. The motivation for my letter refers to a very important issue that has a pan-national and state significance, which is properly presenting the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide to the international community. In my estimation, this must be above any domestic relationship considerations.

I had published a piece previously where I expressed my concerns about the Pan-National Declaration of the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, underscoring the necessity of ensuring that it was redrafted to comply with the norms of international law and the prescribed rules of the coexistence between peoples and states, because in my opinion, as a result of this shameful document, Armenia will not only lose the international community’s goodwill, but will lose the support of those states with whom it has friendly relations.

Taking into consideration that expressing concern is not good enough, I want to present a practical proposal, that is to meet with you face to face at your convenience and under your conditions to exchange thoughts about this issue. And in order for that meeting to be productive, in the interest of that work, I also believe that it is worthwhile to create a consultative commission, who will be charged with clarifying the Republic of Armenia’s final position on the Armenian Genocide. As a result of the work of that commission, a new message must be conceived based on the original declaration on the centenary of the Armenian Genocide, which must be sent to the Secretary General of the United Nations, the Acting President of the OSCE, President of the European Union and leaders of all the countries in the world in the name of the president of the Republic of Armenia.

Therefore:

-- The message must fully comply with the UN Charter, the Helsinki Declaration and Armenia's obligations under international conventions.

-- It must not contradict the constitution of the Republic of Armenia

-- It must not pay tribute to the traditional approaches of a once-stateless nation

-- It must not, under any circumstance, harm the solutions to the important issues faced by Armenia; those include Armenian-Turkish relations and the resolution of the Karabakh Conflict.

Naturally, it is understandable, that the composition of the proposed commission must include people who have demonstrated that they are capable of standing above traditional notions and work from the perspective of the interests of the Armenian state and principles adopted by the modern world. I will remind you of those who have the corresponding standards. From Armenia -- Babken Ararktsyan, Vazgen Manukyan, Gagik Harutyunyan, Vano Siradeghyan, Vartan Oskanyan, Stepan Demirjyan, Arman Grigoryan, Ruben Shugaryan, Alexander Arzumanyan, Ashot Voskanyan, Ara Sahakyan, Ruben Vardanyan, Ashot Sargsyan, Hrant Ter-Abrahamyan, Ktrij Sardaryan. From the United States -- Jirayr Libaridian, Khachig Tololyan, Ruben Adalyan, Ara Sanjyan, Hambik Sarafian, Raffi Urfalian. From France -- Arman Saryan, Jirayr Malkhasyan, Michel Maryan, Raffi Kalfayan. From Turkey -- Levon Chekichyan. From Argentina -- Ruben Mozyan. These are people I know. You can add your own people.

As the person who came up with the idea, I am also ready to personally participate in the activities of the commission, regardless of how my ‘arch-enemies’ will interpret my unexpected move. The important thing in this most duty-bound issue is not to make any wrong moves on a state and pan-national level. Everything else is trivial and secondary.

Another thing -- it is possible that I might suggest something similar in the event of complications arising in the issue of the resolution of the Karabakh Conflict. When the future of the nation and the state are threatened, I cannot sit with my arms crossed and I will knock on any door.

12.02.2015

It pains me that my idea, which stems solely from the interests of the nation, will not be realized because of the current situation of unbridled political retributions and violent repressions against Gagik Tsarukyan, the Prosperous Armenia Party and the opposition in general. Let me add, it doesn’t interest me in the least, what kind of uproar will be heard from either the right or the left following my piece, whose urgency is conditioned also by the 100th anniversary of the Genocide and the imminence of April 24.