Leaders, members and staff of the Armenian National Committee chapters from 20 countries around the world have gathered in Armenia for an international conference that will discuss upcoming priorities. The official opening ceremony took place in Yerevan on Saturday.
With the forced depopulation Armenians from Artsakh and the worsening security environment that threatens the very existence of the Republic of Armenia, the Armenian Revolutionary Bureau has organized the conference for the ANC chapters to chart a course of activities based on the current realities and, if the need arises, devise tactics for tackling these important issues.
The conference agenda will include the discussion of the major external challenges facing Armenia and the Armenian people in general and to leverage the ANC’s potential to that end.
The conference convened with Armenian National Anthem, following which Archbishop Nathan Hovhanesyan, the communications director of the Holy See of Etchmiadzin, began his address with a prayer. He then read a message from His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.
Speeches were presented by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Supreme Council of Armenia chairman, Ishkhan Saghatelyan; Armenia’s former foreign minister Vartan Oskanian; Primate of the Tavush Diocese, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan; ARF Bureau Chairman Hagop Der-Khachadourian; ARF Artsakh Central Committee chair, Ara Poulouzian; ARF Bureau Member and political director Giro Manoyan.
In his remarks, Saghatelyan declared that “they [the government] are forcing us to resign from our past, so that they can govern.”
“You anticipate that a person who formulates his own interests not only is not alone on the world stage, but is able to find allies even in the most unexpected places,” Saghatelyan said.
“The Armenian person living in his homeland understands that the activities of Hai-Tahd offices are the advancement of Armenian national interests,” he added.
Oskanian, the former foreign minister, said that he has witness how ARF structures have greatly benefitted Armenia and the Armenian people for years.
However, he said, currently there is large gap between the interests of the Armenian Nation and those of the authorities. Oskanian said that the government of Armenia wants to “wipe the stigma of the great tragedy, to blame others and to keep the seat of power.”
Archbishop Galstanyan said that the Armenian Genocide issue must be an important part of the lives of Armenians.
“For us, as Armenians, it is important that the Armenians Genocide issue transcends emotions and becomes part of all aspects of our lives as an ideal, because all of our issues that we are facing, inevitably emanates from that issue,” Galstanyan said.
“For the Artsakh issue is not only not closed, but rather the last ‘war’ was loss on the battlefield,” said ARF Bureau chair Der-Khachadourian. “Our demand is very clear: return of rights, international guarantees, interim status, until a permanent status has been determined.”
“We are living in such detrimental times —our darkest days— but we are certain that we are going win, just as will emerge triumphant in the struggle that is currently taking place in the Republic of Armenia against our national values, our Armenian Cause,” added Der-Khachadourian
The priority for Artsakh Armenians is their right to return to Artsakh, said ARF Artsakh Central Committee chair, Poulouzian.
“Not only do we have to overcome the obstacles from Turkey and Azerbaijan, we have to overcome the ant-national policies of the Armenian government and authorities,” said Manoyan, the ARF political director.
“It is problematic when external circles are pointing to positions of the current authorities of Armenia in order to justify their own passive or even negative posturing. This is allowing them to say ‘well your people are saying. We are not going to be more Armenian than they,’” Manoyan said.