LOS ANGELES—In discussing the protocols for Armenia-Turkey relations, Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau member Dr. Viken Hovsepian said President Serzh Sarkisian and his circle must be held accountable for leading the Armenian nation on a dangerous path.
“Our task, as a nation, should be to hold the president and his circle accountable and to sink this process,” said Hovsepian in an interview Friday with Asbarez.
“What we are witnessing today is absolutely unacceptable and must be unequivocally challenged by the entire Armenian nation. This effort led by Serzh Sarkisian which aims to allegedly improve relations between Armenia and Turkey, on the contrary, will create new complications in the future,” explained Hovsepian.
“What’s happened is entrapment. What’s happened is morally and politically bankrupt, which can have serious consequences on the national security of our country and the advancement of our nation,” added Hovsepian.
“Thus, every Armenian individual, every Armenian organization must say its piece and express its position on this matter, in order to collectively deter this campaign, which only serves and benefits Turkish interests,” said the ARF leader.
“The wave of protests must rise both in Armenia and in Diaspora communities in the name of the rights of our future generations and our supreme national interests,” concluded Hovsepian.
Since the announcement of the protocols on the establishment and development of relations between Turkey and Armenia on August 31, the community has been abuzz with calls of protest and anger toward the elements of the protocol which will endanger the future of the Armenian nation.
As such, the ARF Western US Central Committee began a process of rallying together key stakeholders in the community, as well as political parties, organizations, churches and schools to collectively act toward these developments and present one voice in our effort to halt this process.
After meeting with leaders of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, the Social Democratic Hunchakian Party, the Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the ARF CC hosted a forum for organizational leaders and representatives on Sept. 9 and urged them to inform and engage their respective members in the process.
More than 250 organizational representatives gathered at Karapetian Hall in Little Armenia and after being briefed on the latest developments, received the community’s pledge to immediately engage their circles in this protest effort.
Similarly, on Sept. 10, the Central Committee met with the executive and religious councils of the Western Prelacy, as well as the board of the directors and clergy of all Prelacy churches and urged them to address this important issue of national concern with their parishioners.
At press time, Asbarez was informed that a protest rally will take place on Sunday, September 27, jointly organized by the ARF, the Social Democratic Hunchagian party, the Ramakaver party and Unified Young Armenians. The rally will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. at Pelanconi Park in Glendale. Asbarez will provide more information as it becomes available.
What can youth in the diaspora do to help? A majority of the youth in the diaspora are preoccupied with many obstacles. Whether it may be school, work, or variety of viable problems most people feel helpless on many levels and in many political affairs. What are some basic help people can do? Emails, letters, phone calls?…..
Mr. President of Armenia. Would you please step down. Thanks
Is this all what 250 organizational representives of the Diaspora could come up with? Why are you not in Yerevan two weeks later? Are we communcating our positon and concerns to each other? Do not fall into Turkeys plans. Please lets not start the wave of protests in Armenia and the Diaspora before we go to Yerevan and talk.
Comment about comments
Submitted by Ishkhan Babajanian MD on Sun, 2009-09-13 20:17.
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Dear Compatriot from Armenia (unfortunately, you did not give your name),
By threatening to unsubscibe from the “Keghart site” or calling our selfless patriots “ignorant” you achieve nothing.
Yes, maybe in the Diaspora they have not precise information about Mr. Hovhannisian’s post, the stance of Ter-Petrosyan or other members of the “oppsition”, or Madrid secret negotiations, etc., but it has been shown that Diasporans are more familiar with foreign affairs than their counterpart in Armenia.
Dear compatriot, is this matter more important or vital for you than the dangerous policy of Armenia’s politicians or the hypocrisy of the “opposition groups”? We don’t care about Ter-Petrossian, Hovannisian, Oskanian, Sargsyan or the other groups, past or present.
Our nation is in crisis. The only way that Armenian people could make it through, is to have complete reliance upon each other.
This so-called “Road Map” or “Protocols” in their present shape are not in our national interests, because
1- Armenians shall no longer hold any ancestral territotial claims against Turkey by recognizing the Turkish border,
2- The protocol endangers the International (including US) recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
3 -Karabakh’s self-determination and independence are not safeguarded.
Once again, if any these politicians disregard the above Armenian principal interests, we will neither support nor trust them. We hope they will reconsider their stance