On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the reestablishment of the Armenian Republic we, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western US Central Committee, congratulate our nation with all its children in Armenia and the Diaspora.
This sacred party of our independent homeland, salvaged by the great victory in Sardarabad in 1918, with the collapse of the Soviet regime and the unwavering will embodied by our freedom-loving people, in 1991, was able to reclaim its right to become an independence state, which was heightened and gained historic significance with the liberation of Artsakh and the establishment of the independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
However, it is with great anguish that we proclaim that the last 20 years, despite the inspiring and exciting reality of the establishment of an independent state, were fraught with heavy and unnecessary losses.
Just as in all Diaspora communities, for decades Armenian-Americans preserved the sacred aspiration of a United, Free and Independent Armenia and during the last 20 years, with a collective and unwavering dedication, engaged in the task of nation-building.
In the coming days, the Consulate General of the Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles has organized various events to mark the anniversary of the reestablishment of the Republic of Armenia.
The ARF Western US Central Committee welcomes the purchase and the opening ceremony of a building in Glendale that will house the Consulate General of the Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles. Under the flag of our nation, the consulate will become the official center of our homeland and state in our region. We express our complete solidarity to the Consulate General and its imperative mission.
As part of the events planned for the 20th anniversary, the Consulate General has organized a “Gala Celebration Banquet” at the Beverly Hilton in honor of the Armenia’s President Serzh Sarkisian.
On this front, we find it necessary to make the following statements:
a. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence, the presence of President Serzh Sarkisian, coupled with the “Gala Celebration Banquet” organized in his honor casts a shadow on the notion of independence and weakens the struggle of our people to re-establish justice;
b. We do not find it appropriate to organize a “Gala Celebration Banquet” to honor the president. The celebration of independence cannot become an occasion to honor discredited officials, in this case a president, as a result of whose policies the 20-year-old independent Armenia, on a daily basis, is shoved into the quagmire of corruption. Democracy and democratic values continue to be trampled upon for the purpose of securing the re-emergence of the criminal leadership. The severe abuses of human rights, the prevention of public and social development, the absence of justice and independence within the judicial branch, during the tenure of this president, have created such a moral and psychological climate, that the lay Armenian has stopped believing in the government and the state. As a result of the economic structure based on monopolies, the oligarchs who have usurped the wealth of the nation and are being supported by elements in the National Assembly and the government, backed by the president, continue to ruthlessly loot the Armenian people. The endemic social injustice and poverty in the country have reached such inhumane proportions that the lay Armenian does not find his and his family’s future guaranteed in the homeland, and, disillusioned, is opting to emigrate, emptying the homeland of Armenians, and causing the greatest impact to the country’s security.
c. We cannot honor a president who, a long time ago has conceded from a strong position on the resolution of the Karabakh conflict and has announced his willingness to surrender the territories reinforced by the Constitution of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Today, with great concern, we follow the new developments surrounding the negotiations, which at any given moment can create new crises for our people and endanger the security of the independent Artsakh republic and its people.
d. We cannot honor a president who took Armenia and the Armenian people down the disparaging and defeatist path of the Armenia-Turkey protocols, and placed our people under the threat of huge losses… A president who, despite mounting hard-line behavior and continued efforts that degrade Armenia and the Armenian nation, still refuses to withdraw Armenia’s signature from the disgraceful protocols with their rampant preconditions and concessions.
Based on the aforementioned statements, we announce that the ARF Western US Central Committee can not attend the “Gala Celebration Banquet” organized in honor of Armenia’s President Serzh Sarkisian. This decision stems from our principled position of standing by our people, our policies of fighting for our historic rights that are set forth by our Program. Our decision is also inspired by the people’s expectations from the Armenian Revolutionary Federation.
We, once again, welcome the 20th anniversary of the re-establishment of the Republic of Armenia and we congratulate the entire Armenian nation.
“With The People.” This is ARF’s motto for the 20th anniversary.
We remain committed to our historic path of “serving Armenia and the cause of its liberation.
All of life’s bridges connect us to our homeland and “With The People,” who toil and struggle under unjust circumstances.
ARF Western US Central Committee
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