YEREVAN—On July 1, after conclusion of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation 31st World Congress, a declaration was issued, the English translation of which we provide below:
In closely examining the politico-national state of the homeland and the Diaspora, the maximum potential of the Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora trinity, the Republic of Armenia’s current domestic, socio-economic, and ethical condition, as well as its principal challenges, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s 31st World Congress states:
1. Our goal of having a sovereign, democratic, lawful, and socially engaged state, which is a player in regional and world politics, remains unrealized.
2. In struggling to maintain its Armenian identity, the Diaspora continues to find itself faced with adverse conditions which require the highest level of involvement and unity to overcome.
3. The Artsakh conflict remains unsettled, the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh has yet to receive de jure independence in the eyes of the international community, and the military-political, inalterable gains of the war we were forced into have not yet been secured.
4. Owing to the Turkey’s continued denial of the Armenian Genocide and refusal to address our calls for restitution, Armenian-Turkish relations were doomed to failure from the outset. It is necessary that Armenia withdraw its signature from the Armenia-Turkey 4. Protocols immediately and, with this, close the case on these ill-fated protocols.
5. Within the Republic of Armenia:
a. The current administration’s socio-economic policies are not in the interest of the majority of the country’s denizens.
b. As poverty increases and confidence in the future dwindles, out-migration has become a dangerous trend.
c. The government’s political and economic policies have led to the growth of monopolies, the lack of a free market, and wide-spread dispossession.
d. The lack of protection of individual and collective rights and freedoms has hindered social progress and the development of a politically engaged citizenry.
e. The disparity between government promises and the realities of life in Armenia have resulted in citizens losing faith in the democratic process of a responsible government.
f. Moving forth from these statements, the World Congress announces:
The principal issue on the ARF’s political agenda and in the forthcoming general elections will be the realization of regime change and systemic improvements, the establishment of nationally focused and socially just policies, the efficient use of a healthy political system, and the general advancement of Armenia.
We are confident that the citizens of Armenia and Armenians around the world are able to focus their strengths to create a promising future for our homeland and people.
We have the ability to ensure the sustainable development of our country, a pro-Armenian solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Turkish-Armenian relations, a just resolution to the Armenian Genocide, and the safety of Javakhk Armenians, all without jeopardizing our national achievements, goals and interests.
We can breathe new air into relations between Armenia and the Diaspora, and ensure that in complementing one another’s strengths, we present a unified Armenian voice to the world. These relations must become of the utmost importance, and the Diaspora must become more politically engaged and organized.
We are obliged to make Armenia a strong, democratic, socially just, and developed state, where the individual and people can look to the future with certainty and hope, living prosperous and constructive lives. We must be able to overcome internal division and hostility, look past personal or group interests, establish a lawful and socially just government, and place our country back on the right path.
At the doorstep of the 20th anniversary of the independence of the Republics of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation reaffirms its will and conviction to do both the possible and impossible for Armenians and for the unwavering ascendance of the republic.
ARF 31st World Congress
July 1, 2011
Dzaghgatsor, Armenia
I Agree With All,
But There Are Two Major and More Important Points Which ;
I Was Looking Forward From This Congress To Be Announced Was ;
The Parties Point Of View And Standing On Issues Of ;
1.-The Peace Treaty Of Sevres-France 10 AUG. 1920 ;
2.-US President Woodrow Wilson’s Arbitration Decision 22 NOV. 1920 ;
3.-Nakhijevan,Kars, And etc….
Which Is Very Disappointing ;
With all the respect to the ARF World Congress, I would like to make the following comments.
1. The Declaration is built only on negative observations of the reality. It would produce a Program – a logical continuation of the Declaration, unbalanced. I think, that the powerful Declaration must also reflect any positive change, which happened despite the continues pressure from super- and not very much superpowers.
2. Wording like “… all without jeopardizing our national achievements, goals and interests” sounds like Israel’s equivocal justification of not recognizing the Armenian genocide. Wording like “pro-Armenian solution to … conflict” completely erases the fact that Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh were, are and will fight for their independence in a full scale war. It was not a “conflict”. We don’t have to pour water on our enemies mill.
3. I suggest that “We have the power to ensure the sustainable development of our country, to bring closer the day of recognition of independence of Artsakh, to secure an equally beneficial amelioration of Turkish-Armenian relations, to call for application of international law for the restitution of the Armenian Genocide, to watch for the safety of Javakhk Armenians”.
is more focused than
“We have the ability to ensure the sustainable development of our country, a pro-Armenian solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Turkish-Armenian relations, a just resolution to the Armenian Genocide, and the safety of Javakhk Armenians, all without jeopardizing our national achievements, goals and interests.”
3. I think that a Program-building article must sound: “It is a privilege to make Armenia a strong, democratic, socially just, and developed state. It is imperative for each denizen of Armenia to exercise civility in all aspects of life. It is imperative to unite now, by ending the harmful internal division and hostility, the deteriorating practice of putting personal or corporal interests above the national interests. It is an honor to participate in establishing a lawful and socially just Armenian government, and place Armenia back on the right path.”
is more program-building than
“We are obliged to make Armenia a strong, democratic, socially just, and developed state, where the individual and people can look to the future with certainty and hope, living prosperous and constructive lives. We must be able to overcome internal division and hostility, look past personal or group interests, establish a lawful and socially just government, and place our country back on the right path.”
Great!! Haistansis shall recognize that Armenian newcomers to Haiastan and too, the Diasporan Armenians are not necessarily the enemy – as are the Turks, Azeris… and others.
Madamme , sir, every body has it’s opinion, it is very obvious no ARF no Strong Armenia….