Yerevan/Mediamax/. First President of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan published an open letter to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan today.

''I sent an article to iLur website and ''Chorrord Ishkhanutyun'' newspaper dated February 12 to be published next day. But when in the evening of February 12, Serzh Sargsyan addressed his famous speech against Gagik Tsarukyan, I immediately called off the article from the above mentioned editions as it would be perceived in a completely different way in the situation. After long reflections, however, I came to conclusion that irrespective of inner political events, I don't have the right to conceal the gravest problem from the society which concerns vital interests of the whole Armenian people, Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. So, with a short delay, I'd like to present the material which I titled ''An Open Letter to Serzh Sargsyan'', writes Levon Ter-Petrosyan.

Below is the full text of the letter:

''First of all, I apologize for turning to you not through secret channels but with an open letter. There are 2 reasons for it:

a) If I turned to you in a different way, my step which purpose I'll disclose below would unavoidably evoke a threat of doubts and rumors given our serious political discords.

b) My address was motivated by such a pivotal issue of state and all-national significance as the problem of proper presentation of the Armenian Genocide Centennial on the international level. And this matter, I think, should be put above any inner political reasons.

Yesterday, through the press I expressed my concerns over the content of the “Pan-Armenian Declaration on the Armenian Genocide Centennial” (iLur.am, Chorrord Ishkhanutyun) stressing the necessity to amend it in conformity with the norms of the international law and rules on the coexistence of countries and nations, as I believe this embarrassing document would not only not earn the international community’s sympathy for Armenia but would also deprive it of the support of friendly states.

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. To have a productive meeting, in the interests of the case, I believe we should consider setting up a consulting commission the main task of which will be the 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.

Accordingly:

1. The address should fully comply with the UN Charter, Helsinki Final Act and Armenia’s commitments undertaken within the framework of international conventions.

2. It should not conflict with the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia.

3. It should not reflect the traditional notion of a nation once deprived of its statehood.

4. In no way it should harm the settlement of the most important issues Armenia faces – Armenian-Turkish relations and NK conflict settlement.

Needless to say that the staff of this consulting commission should be comprised of people who have already proved they can stand above the traditional notions and assess the occurrences from the point of view of Armenia’s state interests and the principles of the modern world. I can name some of them. From Armenia: Babken Ararktsyan, Vazgen Manukyan, Gagik Harutyunyan, Vano Siradeghyan, Vardan Oskanian, Stepan Demirchyan, Arman Grigoryan, Ruben Shugaryan, Alexander Arzumanyan, Ashot Voskanyan, Ara Sahakyan, Ruben Vardanyan, Ashot Sargsyan, Hrant Ter-Abrahamyan, Ktrich Sardaryan. From the U.S. : Zhirayr Liparityan, Khachik Tololyan, Ruben Adalyan, Ara Sanjyan, Hambik Sarafyan, Raffi Urfalyan. From France: Arman Saryan, Zhirayr Malkhasyan, Michele Maryan, Raffi Galfayan. From Turkey: Levon Zekiyan. From Argentina: Ruben Mozyan. These are the people whom I know. You can add your own candidates.

As an initiator of the idea I am ready to take part in the works of the commission, and it doesn't matter how my sudden step will be considered by my “blood friends''. It's important not to make a mistake in this responsible matter on the state and all-national level. All the remaining is secondary and minor.

I will possibly make a similar surprise to you in case of difficulties in the NK peace process. When there is a threat to my people and state I can't be idle and am ready to knock at any door''.