Meetings with Ambassadors

STATEMENT of the ARF Regional Conference of the Americas

ARF youth participate in international conferences

ARF endorses Kocharian re-election bid

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Central Committee of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) issued an announcement on November 6, 1996, regarding the presidential election in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

The announcement affirmed that the "Presidential elections in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic must take place; [and that] Karabakh must have a president directly elected by the people." The announcement further stated that "For the first time, the people of Karabakh will elect its president who will have to become the guarantor of the state, national security, development of a democratic society and the social and civil rights of the people."

The ARF Central Committee of Artsakh concludes that, "all efforts by forces attempting to undermine and create obstacles for the upcoming presidential elections [are] unacceptable, since we are convinced that all political, diplomatic and moral pressures will be met by a unanimous counteraction by the Armenian people."

On November 19, The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Central Committee of Artsakh issued another statement endorsing incumbent Robert Kocharian's candidacy in the Nov. 24 presidential elections in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

"Based on its November 6 announcement and the interests of Artsakh and the Armenian nation, taking into consideration the military-political climate in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Armenia and the region, and after careful examination of the platforms of the three presidential candidates, and the past two-year record of incumbent Robert Kocharian, particularly his efforts in strengthening Nagorno-Karabakh's statehood, garnering international recognition, ensuring the security of the population and his unwavering position during the negotiations," the ARF Central Committe of Artsakh of Artsakh endorses the candidacy of Robert Kocharian in the November 24 presidential elections and calls on the people of Artsakh, all ARF members and ARF supporters to take an active part in the elections and vote for Robert Kocharian."

ARF representatives Serge Amirkhanian and Armen Sarkssian delivered this statement to NKR President Robert Kocharian and held a two hour meeting with him, discussing the socio-economic problems and political challenges facing the republic.

On Sunday, November 24, 1996, the first presidential elections took place in the Nagorno-Karabagh Republic. These elections were marked by high activity of the voters. Three candidates ran for the highest office in the Republic: Boris Arushanian (Member of the National Assembly of the Nagorno-Karabagh Republic), Hrant Melkumian (Chairman of the Organizational Committee of the Communist Party of the Nagorno-Karabagh Republic), and Robert Kocharian (current President).

The presidential candidates, as well as international observers, were satisfied with the way the presidential campaign was conducted. All the candidates received equal opportunities to present their programs, and called the campaign "calm" and "civilized."

89,890 people were registered as voters in the 171 polling stations throughout Karabagh. According to the final results published by the Central Electoral Commission of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, 70,058 (80 percent) eligible voters participated turned out for Karabakh's first-ever presidential polls. Robert Kocharian was declared the official winner of the polls with 88.9 percent of the votes, ahead of Boris Aroushanian's 7.05 percent and Hrand Melkoumian's four percent.

Observers and reporters from Russia, Europe and Canada observed and monitored the elections. During a press conference, international observers announced that the elections were carried out smoothly and reported no violations in elections procedures.

ARF congratulates Kocharian

On November 26, 1996, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau sent a congratulatory letter to Robert Kocharian, the newly-elected president of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. The ARF Bureau states, that "despite numerous outside difficulties, this presidential elections demonstrated that the brave people of Karabagh have resolutely decided to relentlessly continue the path of strengthening the republic's independence and the triumph of democracy. We wholeheartedly congratulate your election and reaffirm the Armenian Revolutionary Federation's complete solidarity with the just struggle of the people of Nagorno-Karabagh."

On November 25, the President of the Republic of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrossian sent a letter of congratulation to the President of Nagorno-Karabagh Republic Robert Kocharian on the occasion of his reelection. President Ter-Petrossian expressed his confidence that by getting the trust of the majority of the people of Nagorny Karabagh, President Kocharian will be more able to make his constructive contribution to the Karabagh conflict's political settlement.

Meetings with Ambassadors

YEREVAN.- During October, representatives of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Executive Council of Armenia held separate meetings with the Ambassadors of the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, France and the United States of America.

In their discussions with the Ambassadors, the ARF leaders stressed the imperative of strengthening and developing democratic principles in Armenia, the furthering of relations between the people of Armenia and the respective countries, as well as a slew of domestic and foreign policy related issues.

STATEMENT of the ARF Regional Conference of the Americas

A meeting of Armenian Revolutionary Federation organizational bodies of the Americas held a Regional Conference from September 28 to 29, in Los Angeles. The ARF Bureau, which had called the meeting, had invited the ARF central committees of the Eastern and Western United States, Canada and South America.

The conference mainly evaluated the current situation in Armenia stemming from the Armenian leadership's efforts to falsify presidential election results and the ensuing wave of popular protests in opposition to the leadership's violent acts and abuses, as well as activities to be undertaken by organizational regions in light of the recent developments in Armenia.

The conference expressed its complete solidarity with the defense of constitutional rights and the will of the people, and committed itself to obtaining a positive reaction from the international community in that regard.

ARF Regional Conference of the Americas

ARF youth participate in international conferences

Armenian Revolutionary Federation Youth Organization representatives participated in the "Youth in Development Policy" conference at the American University of Cairo in Egypt, October 25 to November 5, 1996.

More than 60 international youth delegations attended the conference, which was organized by the Cairo-based Youth for Development and Cooperation and Egypt Awareness Association, in association with the Netherlands foreign ministry.

AUC political science and economics professors, representatives of Egypt's youth ministry and the diplomatic corps in Cairo addressed the conference. All speakers stressed the need for increased cooperation among international youth organizations.

A representative of the ARF Youth Organization (ARF-YO), from Lebanon, acquainted conference participants with the history and activities of ARF youth and student organizations.

An ARF-YO representative from France took part in a follow-up conference, entitled "Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation," also held in Cairo.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Youth Organization was among the participants of a St. Petersburg seminar, co-sponsored by the Union of Young Democrats of Russia and the Social Democratic Youth of Sweden. The ARF-YO was represented by a member from Sweden.

The week-long seminar, which began on Nov. 18, discussed ways of developing and expanding youth relations.

During his presentation, the ARF-YO representative acquainted participants with the ARF-YO's structure and activities, focusing on the present situation in Armenia.

The European Council of Socialist Youth, a member of the International Union of Socialist Youth, held its annual conference immediately after the seminar, Nov. 22-24.The ARF-YO was informed that its membership application to the IUSY was in good standing and progressing very well.

A delegation of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Youth Organization of Armenia took part in the annual conference of the International Union of Socialist Youth in Kathmandu, Nepal, from December 6-8.

The ARF-YO delegation focused the participants' attention on the breakdown of democracy in the Republic of Armenia and the grave human rights violations following the Sept. 22 presidential elections.

The IUSY conference unanimously adopted a resolution expressing "deep concern for the lack of democracy in Armenia."