PARIS (ARF Press Office)—The Council Meeting of Socialist International adopted a resolution on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, at the conclusion of a two-day session, which was attended by representatives of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation.
Below is the text of the resolution:
Greatly encouraged by the meetings held by our International this year in Yerevan and Baku, where Armenian and Azerbaijani representatives from our member parties were able to engage in unprecedented dialogue over their differences and visions for the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh issue, we extend our recognition to our member parties and governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan for hosting the delegates of Socialist International member parties from the other country, and view this as an extremely positive step.
We now see an opportunity and a need to make use of the foundations that have been set, to build dialogue and confidence both within our International and on the wider political stage in those countries.
It is crucial to advance the resolution of the conflict of Nagorno Karabakh among both countries to ensure peace and stability in that region. The SI which has launched its initiative for peace will preserve and continue its efforts to advance on:
A. Formalization of the status of Nagorno Karabakh and a final status for the region that is acceptable to all;
B. Establishment of the rights of displaced persons of both sides;
C. Calling for respect of the 1994 ceasefire agreement and refraining from all types of ceasefire violations, including sniper fire;
D. Calling on the parties of the conflict to display political will to reach an agreement on mutual, commensurate, equal and concurrent concessions to address the main question of the conflict.
The ARF delegation at the SI Council in Paris was comprised of ARF Bureau member, Mario Nabandian, who is the Co-Chair of the SI Committee on the CIS, the Black Sea and the Caucasus; Chairman of the ARF Supreme Council of Armenia, Armen Rustamian, ARF Bureau member Levon Mkrtchyan; ARF Western Europe Central Committee co-chairmen, Mourad Papazian and Richard Ananian (France), Mariette Gharapetian (France); and Kaspar Garabedian (Greece).
Gharapetian also attended the Socialist International Women’s conference, which took place on Nov. 12 and 13.
In September 1996, the ARF rejoined the Socialist International, which it had originally joined in 1907. In 2003, the ARF became a full member of the Socialist International, thus becoming the only party in the CIS with such a status. The ARF-D Women’s Group is a member of the SIW (Socialist International Women). During the XXIII Congress of the Socialist International, in June 2008 in Athens, ARF representative Maria Titizian was elected vice-president of the organization. In November, 2008 at the SI Council in Mexico, Nalbandian was elected Co-Chair of the SI Committee for the CIS, the Black Sea and the Caucasus.
The youth organization of the ARF, the Armenian Youth Federation, is a full member of the IUSY (International Union of Socialist Youth) and an observer member of the ECOSY (European Community Organization of Socialist Youth).
What is the philosophy of the AYF, can anyone answer?
First they were Socialist, then Anti-communist, then Nationalist, now Socialist again. The truth is Socialist and Nationalist are incompatible philosophies.
I think I have an answer. Maybe AYF are Opportunists.
Socialism and Communism are two separate philosophies. Therefore, a Socialist can be anti-Communist. On the other hand, all “ISM” are and can be Nationalists in nature. Nationalism is about advocating national independence or strong national government, regardless of their respective political philosophy.
The only Opportunist philosophy I see is your excuse to denigrate AYF.
There is absolutely NO contradiction in being a socialist, a nationalist and an anti-communist.
My dear Armenian friend,
ARF and its youth organization AYF is, has been and will always be a Socialist (enkervarakan in Armenian) organization. There is a great big difference between Socialism and Socialists and Communism and Communists. ARF, since its establishment has found itself also deeply involved in preserving the Armenian identity, culture and territorial integrity, and has pursued justice from the Turkish government, which still denies the crimes committed against the Armenian people living in the Ottoman Empire. To say that it is a nationalist organization, may be a little too harsh on ARF, since the Socialist International accepts it as a member. But to say that the bulk of the Dashnaks (members of the ARF and AYF) are nationalists, this is acceptable. They are Armenians who have found themselves, fortunately or unfortunately, fighting for the protection of Armenian communities all over the world. Notably, in the Middle East, where Armenians have been living in volitile countries with their own problems.
I assume you are young, and you have not had the chance to travel aroung the world to see what and who we are. Socialists, who love their nation and are proud of their national accomplishments throughout history. Yet, we believe that the only fair government that fits into the Armenian character is a Free Market Socialist System of governance.
As for me, I am a former dashnak, that has left the ranks of the party, but I still respect and love the party, even with its shortcomings.
Thank you for your precious time
I am not that young, Martik. On the contrary, I think the ARF has perpetrated a great crime towards the Armenian nation by dividing it. I will never forgive them for that. Even the Turks couldn’t do that.
Please substantiate your comment that the ARF has divided the Armenian nation.
Empty, uninformed, ignorant and caustic comments like yours are what divide our communities.
The ARF is 120 year old political party that is not perfect in any sense, but is the ONLY entity with an ideology, vision and organizing effort for the future of the Armenian nation.
I guess splitting our Church in two and dividing the Diaspora was done by some other entity.
Arto,
You must be high on something or don’t have a clue what you are talking about. Nationalism and Communism are mutually exclusive. But Nationalism and Socialism are compatible. i.e. one can be a nationalist and socialist at the same time but not communist and nationalist.
you need to do some serious reading and learning before posting your mindless “comments”.
This is a lot of nonsense. No one is in a position to pass opinion on Artsakh; it was a region of Armenia that the butcher Stalin, the bastard of an Armenian father, in vengence separated it from Armenia and put it under Azeri rule. We faught for it, we shed blood for it, we conquered it, and we ain’t about to let anyone, repeat, anyone, pass opinion about it. The “Torkeh-khar” Azeris are damn lucky we didn’t take Baku. This time we will!
True there. But I am not quite understanding all this talk aboutgiving the lands “around” karabagh as a compromise.
That dosn’t sound logical to me, but too bad it is something that is possible according to the President.
National Socialist. Absolutely compatible philosophies. National in character, socialist in solidarity with the national state. The philosophy of the AYF is fundamentally nationalist, as it should be. The Socialist flavor accompanies it .
My apologies, I meant ARF not AYF. The only Nationalist Socialist I know was a dangerous German/Austrian guy with a funny moustache.
That reminds me. How about that period during the WW II when some of them even flirted with the Nazis. Remember General Dro and the 812th Armenian Battalion of Wehrmacht? Or how about when they were in bed with the “CUP”?
The Armenian people will never vote them into power as they are smart enough to know the ARF’s “opportunism” will only lead to their death and destruction.
How are socialism and nationalism incompatible? Maybe communism and nationalism, if communism is espousing the idea of some manner of global brotherhood, getting rid of national characteristics. But socialism is an economic system, it endeavours towards social justice, and can function within and even promote a national culture, as far as I know. Perhaps someone well-versed in the subject could respond.
Those that win wars do not make concessions, there will be no “mutual concessions fair for all” nonsense being imposed on Armenians after we bled for our historic land. If one inch of historic Armenian land in Arstakh is infringed upon based ridiculous notions of “mutual concessions” Armenians in Armenia, Arstakh, and the Diaspora will react swiftly to punish those responsible by any means possible.
The Armenian people are done with the yoke of imposed “fairness for all”. The same Allies that raped and pillaged Germany to submission after WWII for 50 years are now talking about “giving Armenian land back to the azeris”, land that we bled for, land that should have never been “gifted” to the Azeris in the first place by Bolshevik mutts in the beginning of the 20th century. Armenians get ready, a huge bait and switch is being attempted to be forced upon us by the powers that be.
If Artsakh was never part of so called Azerbaijani republic why such stupid resolutions at all!? I would say a lot of stupid wordings in SI resolution “. A. Formalization of the status of Nagorno Karabakh and a final status for the region that is acceptable to all;” They could at least use the Armenian name of NK.. As one can see even Dashnaks have no clear policy even after 130 years!
I am dismayed that ARF has identifying itself with socialism again. Socialism had swept the world for 80 years from 1910 till 1990’s, when nobody knew much what it would do to you. Having experimented with it for so long there is no doubt nowadays that Socialism does not work and is devastating to any country that adopts it. There is no reason to claim socialism anymore now that it has been proven to be such a failed and disproven philosophy.
Hmm it seems like your website ate my first comment (it was super long) so I guess Ill just sum it up what I had written and say Im thoroughly enjoying