YEREVAN. – Armenia’s first president Levon Ter-Petrosyan touched upon his relationship with PM Nikol Pashinyan in his article on ilur.am website.

Ter-Petrsoyan noted that “sensational” rumors about his relations with Pashinyan appear on daily basis, and his decision to break silence is aimed at not making Pashinyan a target of false accusations.

The first president dismissed made up stories about his role of “a God father” for Pashinyan’s policy. 

“It is ridiculous. Since mid-90s and up to 2000 Pashinyan, as a reporter, was my strictest and uncompromising critic. By jointing Alternative initiative he stopped his critical statements and was one of the campaign members ahead of 2008 elections,” Ter-Petrosyan said, adding that Pashinyan was actively involved in ANC campaign, but broke relations with ANC after the start of cooperation between ANC, Prosperous Armenia and Heritage parties.

Ter-Petrosyan dismissed rumors that Pashinyan calls him every day to ask for advice, they met on July, 2018, and the government issued a formal press release on their meeting.

The first president said the claims that Pashinyan inherited his “lands for peace” formula are “the third nonsense”.

“Neither Pashinyan, nor I have ever used “lands for peace” formula. This is slander which was dismantled by ill-wishers,” he said. “As for the settlement program, unlike the three presidents of Armenia, the Pashinyan program is not yet known. He has emphasized some principles, for example, rejection of the Kocharyan-Sargsyan position, conducting negotiations on behalf of Karabakh, and support for Karabakh’s participation in negotiations as a full party,” the former president said. At the same time, he added that no matter what program Pashinyan adopted, it would be his own program