YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–A symposium Thursday organized by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Executive Council of Armenia addressed issues concerning national ideology–its essence–content and formation.
Speakers at the symposium stated that national ideology was the expression of national self-consciousness–which mainly came about when a nation was deprived of statehood.
National Ideology was described as a system of national ethics which forms national way of thought and responsibility.
The speakers stressed that any power which sidesteps national ideology is doomed to fail. Otherwise–they explained–the people would become its ardent supporters.
According to historian Lendrush Khurshudian–national ideology was based on ten fundamentals–the most important of which was national accord–without which it would be practically impossible to preserve the nation.
Khurshudian said that among the major provisions of national ideology were national was regarded as an enemy of the nation.
"The Turks represent such a nation for the Armenia’s. Turkey executed the genocide of Armenia’s and now uses their historical territory. The Turks will cease to be viewed as the enemy of the Armenia’s if they admit having committed the genocide and return Western Armenia," said Academician Khurshudian.
ARF member and Director of the Central European Institute for Armenian Affairs Edward Hovanessian said that national ideology for the Armenia’s was its general strategy and should answer the following four main questions: "why does one need to remain an Armenian?"What does it mean to be an Armenian?"How can one remain an Armenian?"What the Armenian people have to do as a member of the family of nations in the world?".
In an interview with Noyan Tapan–Hovanessian pointed out that the opinions voiced during the conference would be summarized and an attempt would be made to develop national ideology as a strategy and substantiation for national unity.
A collection of presentation made at the conference is expected to be published with the assistance of the ARF.