OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

20 09/10/06 | 16:49

Society

Peace Dialogue NGO expresses its concern regarding the pan-Armenian
tour of the President of the Republic of Armenia. As an NGO aimed
towards the improvement of relations of Armenia with its bordering
neighbors and making efforts on the direction of peace building, our
organization is absolutely certain of the necessity of improvement
in Armenian-Turkish relations without preconditions and the opening
of the border; however, for us the idea of such a tour seems strange
and incomprehensible.

Ignoring the fact that even in Armenia and among its citizens the
process of Armenian-Turkish relations is opaque and unclear and
that there is a huge number of people for whom there are still many
questions regarding the content and appropriateness of the pending
protocol, the President of Armenia considered as rational discussion
of the issue with representatives of the diaspora during the tour
and making efforts at clarifying the issue with our fellow countrymen
outside of Armenia.

Without reducing the importance of the positions and approach of
the diaspora community, we consider it important to express that the
President of Armenia, who is directly responsible for representation
and advocacy on behalf of the citizens of Armenia, has, first of all,
an obligation towards his own society and the citizens of his own
country-only then afterward does he have any obligation towards the
citizens of France, America, Russia, or any other country who already
have someone representing their interests.

Repeating the fact that there is a great necessity for clarification of
many topics and reduction of doubts within Armenian society (ongoing
rallies by the Dashnak Party, existence of negative positions among
the political parties), we call for the following:

1.A guarantee of transparency in the process and,

2.An increase in the level of information and knowledge of the topic
among society.

In a country that is supposed to be considered democratic it is
imperative that the first duty of the President of Armenia in this
matter is ensuring that the society of his country can trust its own
government and be knowledgeable about its actions.