One of the Wikileaks publications from the Armenian series of cable is about the message issued by Joseph Pennington on November 25, 2008. The message is classified as “confidential.” It declares about the series of meetings of Matthew Bryza with non- governmental organizations, Heritage Party and the ANC representatives. Bryza has discussed the Karabakh conflict resolution issues with the ANC Leaders, in particular with Davit Shahnazaryan, Levon Zurabyan, Aram Sargsyan, Artak Zeynalyan, Ararat Zurabyan and Khachatur Kokobelyan. During the ANC meeting with Pennington he has introduced some details from the meeting with Levon Ter-Petrosyan, as well as contradictions found in the latter’s speech. “Ter-Petrosyan speaks. Levon Ter-Petrosyan made several comments in front of the whole group and later on another comment in private discussion with Bryza and the Ambassador. In the open discussion he spoke about Serzh Sargsyan’s weaknesses and political failures, which do not allow him to be strong enough in reaching consensus in Karabakh peace settlement and peacekeeping. He also stated that after bad elections, March 1 violence and the nationwide curfew the Armenian society does not accept Sargsyan as legitimate president. Moreover, the society feels hatred towards the “criminal regime”; which Sargsyan has inherited from Robert Kocharyan and which served as official tool for bringing Serzh Sargsyan to office. Ter-Petrosyan called the regime and its oligarch-supporters deeply corrupt, by adding about millions of dollars going to the pockets of officials instead of being sent to state budget. As per Ter-Petrosyan’s words the whole corrupt system depends on the president, and the NK authorities are just a component of that entire corrupt pyramid. Ter-Petrosyan believes that despite the apparently truthful statements of the NK representatives regarding independence, in reality they all are in the “pocket” of Yerevan. That is why, according to Ter-Petrosyan, Sargsyan will not face any strong resistance on part of the ruling elite in connection with NK resolution. Instead he will encounter serious counteraction on part of the society. If the society tolerated ”totalitarian regime” of the government and anti-democratic behavior in many spheres (for instance the corrupt environment and functioning of tax and customs services), the same society will not allow negative settlement of NK issue. Ter-Petrosyan said that Kocharyan and Sargsyan justify their bad government by the necessity of NK defense, and that Sargsyan’s positions will give in once he goes for a consensus which is worse than the previous one lying on the table 10 years back. (Comment- because of which Ter-Petrosyan himself resigned – end of the Comment).
… Off the record: Ter-Petrosyan emphasized three basic points in his private meeting with Bryza and the Ambassador. He said it is the high-time for settling NK issue. He also said that it is very important for the USA to handle the last phase of negotiations, so that victory goes to the US and not Russia. He proposed the US to assemble a conference for being the major negotiator and dictate the regulatory terms. Ter-Petrosyan mentioned that the basic draft of the agreement is ready, and that the USA should initiate and practice wise diplomacy, lead the summit and rest on resolution.