ARF holds meetings with Russian, US and Iranian officials

ARF political relations have increased in recent months due to the internal political situation of Armenia and the international developments surrounding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Global and regional powers continue to regard the ARF as a major political force in Armenia, despite the efforts of the Armenian authorities to portray it as a marginal and extremist group.

Meetings in Moscow and Yerevan

A delegation of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau and the ARF Executive Council of Armenia was in Moscow from December 18-22, 1996, for a number of high-level meetings.

ARF Bureau chairperson Peno Tontian and members Mgrdich Mgrdichian, Apo Boghigian and Martun Matevossian were joined by ARF Executive Council members Rouben Hakobian (also a member of the National Assembly of Armenia), Hovik Aghazarian and Gagik Mkrtchian, as well as Seyran Baghdassarian, director of the ARF Bureau office in Moscow.

The ARF delegation attended the annual meeting of the Russian Federation's Congress of Russian Communities (KRO), on Saturday, Dec. 21 at the Hall of Writers of the Russian Federation.

KRO chairman Dimitri Rogozin and ARF Executive Council of Armenia political affairs representative and member of the Armenian parliament Rouben Hakobian signed a declaration of cooperation and called for continued friendly relations between the Russian and Armenian peoples.

Later that evening, the ARF delegation met with former presidential candidate and National Security Minister Alexander Lebed. The group expressed their deep gratitude to General Lebed for his unwavering and decisive support of the Armenian residents of Baku during the 1990 pogroms in the city in an attempt to rid the Azeri capital of its Armenian population. Lebed was the commander of the Russian forces in Baku at the time of the pogroms, and is credited for saving the lives of nearly 200,000 Armenians.

The two-hour meeting also focused on common geopolitical interests and stressed the importance of Russian-Armenian cooperation in that sphere.

On Friday, the ARF delegation, joined by writer Zori Balayan, met with Russian Federation Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Lobov, and thanked him for his continued support of Armenia and the Armenian people, especially for his efforts in assisting the 1988 earthquake survivors. The meeting also focused on political relations of Armenia and the Russian Federation and issues related to further development of Russian-Armenian ties.

A second round of high level meetings in Moscow were held by a delegation of the ARF Executive Council of Armenia, during the first week of March.

The ARF delegation, which included Executive Council members Rouben Hakobian and Gagik Mkrtchian, as well as director of the Russian-Armenian Fund and the ARF Bureau office in Moscow Seyran Baghdassarian, participated in the annual assemblies of the Russian Federation's Congress of Russian Communities (KRO) - the party of General Lebed - and the Russian Peoples' Union - the party led by Sergei Baburin, Deputy Speaker of the Russian Duma (lower house of parliament).

The delegation then proceeded to meet with several political factions and influential political leaders in the Russian Duma, among them Duma deputy-speaker Sergei Baburin, chairman of the Duma International Relations Commission Vladimir Lukhin, chairman of the Duma CIS Affairs Commission Georgy Tikhanov, chairman of the Duma Geopolitical Affairs Commission Alexei Mitofanov, and a leader of the "Narodovlastim" caucus and chairman of the Duma Armenian-Russian Relations Committee Nikolai Rushokov.

In the sphere of inter-party relations, the ARF delegation met with vice-chairman of the "Yabloco" Political Union and Duma member Valey Igrunov - "Yabloco" is lead by Gregory Yevlinski.

The delegation also met with leaders of prominent Russian research centers and think tanks.

During all meetings, the current status of Russian-Armenian relations, as well as the Karabakh issue and inter-party cooperation measures were discussed.

Meanwhile in Yerevan, on January ??, 1997, Armenian Revolutionary Federation Executive Council representatives met with Russian Ambassador to Armenia Andrei Urnov.

ARF representatives Rouben Hakobian and Gagik Mkrtchian discussed approaches toward a resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict following the recent Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Lisbon Summit.

The ARF representatives also discussed the current socio-political conditions in Armenia, as well as plans for the National Accord opposition grouping.

The delegation also briefed Urnov about recent meetings between members of the ARF Executive Council and high-level Russian officials and political figures.

Meetings in US and Yerevan

United States Ambassador to Armenia Peter Tomsen held talks in Washington, on Monday, January 14, 1997, with leaders of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and Armenian National Committee of America.

Participating in the hour-long discussion, held at the ANCA offices, were ANCA Chairman Mourad Topalian, ARF Bureau members Garo Armenian and Apo Boghigian, ARF Eastern Region Central Committee Chairman Vasken Ayvazian, and David Rodearmel, the State Department Desk Officer for Armenia.

Among the subjects addressed during the meeting were regional developments in the Caucasus and US assistance programs to Armenia, as well as domestic Armenian issues, including the advancement of democracy. Ambassador Tomsen was accompanying

Armenia's prime minister Armen Sarkissian on a working visit to the United States.

ARF Executive Council of Armenia political affairs representative and member of the Armenian parliament Rouben Hakobian's January visit to the US was also marked by a full itinerary of political meetings and visitations. On January 13, Mr. Hakobian met with Congressman Joe Kennedy to brief him on recent political developments in Armenia and to thank him for his long-standing support for the Armenian people. Hakobian urged continued and increased United States aid to Armenia but noted that such aid should be used, in part, to assist the restoration of full democracy and a civil society in Armenia.

Mr. Hakobian deplored the lack of trust between the government and the people of Armenia and stressed the need for confidence-building measures such as new parliamentary elections. Kennedy expressed his support for measures strengthening democracy in Armenia and his determination to continue working with the ANC to assist the people of Armenia.

On January 14, Hakobian met with Congressman Marty Meehan at his office in Lowell. Hakobian updated the congressman on the current situation in Karabakh and stressed the need for US support for self-determination for the people of Karabakh. Hakobian noted that Meehan has supported a number of measures aimed at ending Azerbaijan's and Turkey's aggression and blockades directed at Armenia and Karabakh.

The two also discussed the recent retreat from democracy that has occurred in Armenia, but Hakobian emphasized that a reduction in US aid to Armenia would be detrimental to the people, not those in power. Rather, the United States is in a position to take other steps to persuade the Armenian government to respect democracy and to end restrictions on the media and opposition parties.

On January 15, Hakobian met with Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Paul Cellucci. Cellucci described his plans to lead a Massachusetts trade delegation to Armenia and asked for Hakobian's input. Hakobian encouraged efforts to promote trade and investment by American companies as an important means to help improve the socio-economic conditions in his country.

Cellucci and Hakobian expressed the hope that they would be meeting again soon in Yerevan. Also attending the meeting were State Senator Warren Tolman and

Representatives Rachel Kaprielian (D-Watertown), Peter Koutoujian (D- Waltham) and Kevin Honan (D-Allston).

During his visit to Massachusetts, Hakobian also had meetings with staffers of Harvard University's Conflict Resolution Group and State Senator Warren Tolman.

On the West Coast, Rouben Hakobian met with Representative Howard Berman (D-Calif.-26) on Thursday, January 16, 1997, at the Congressman's district office, during which he outlined several important socio-political issues facing Armenia and addressed the Nagorno-Karabakh peace prospects.

During the meeting, Hakobian analyzed conditions in Armenia following the presidential elections, and briefed the congressman, a member of the House Committee on International Relations, about violations of democratic norms, while offering his thoughts on

methods to improve the socio-political conditions in Armenia, always emphasizing the importance to adhere to the will of the people.

Hakobian further explained that the ARF had held meetings with Armenia's new prime minister Armen Sarkissian and expressed its support for the prime ministers platform. On the other hand, however, Hakobian stressed that democratic reforms in Armenia were

of utmost importance, explaining that the US through its legislature could play a positive role in that aspect.

The ARF leader also urged Berman to continue to press for US economic assistance to Armenia, stressing the importance of that assistance to the people of Armenia and the Armenian state.

Hakobian also briefed Berman on the outcome of the recent Organization for Security and Cooperation Lisbon summit and presented his views on a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

On Friday, January 17, ARF-Dashnakstutiune Executive Council Member and Armenian Parliament Deputy, Rouben Hakobian, met with California Congressman Brad Sherman, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives International Relations Committee, to discuss ways to improve Armenia's economic and political development and support the newly independent Republic of Nagorno Karabakh.

During the hour long meeting the two legislators also shared ideas on how U.S. assistance to Armenia could be more effectively put to use and examined the prospects for peace and stability in the Caucasus. Hakobian noted that U.S. assistance could be more efficiently utilized and have a more permanent affect by initiating projects promoting urgently needed democratic and economic infrastructure reform. In addition, Hakobian explained the necessity for the United States and the international community to recognize the people of Nagorno Karabakh's self-determination rights in building trust and confidence in the ongoing OSCE peace process.

During his visit to the US, Hakobian also met with members of the Armenian communities in Boston, Los Angeles, Fresno and San Fransisco, held press conferences and served as keynote speaker at the 106th anniversary celebrations of the ARF.

Meanwhile back in Yerevan, on Wednesday, January 9, 1997, Rouben Hakobian had met with US Embassy representatives Susan Thornton and David Franzin, following his meeting with Justice Minister Marat Alexanian.

At the request of the US Embassy, Hakobian had briefed the officials on his earlier meeting at the Justice Ministry to discuss the reinstatement of the ARF in Armenia.

Hakobian and the embassy officials had also discussed the National Accord's future plans and the domestic political climate.

Meeting with Iranian Ambassador in Yerevan

Armenian Revolutionary Federation Executive Council members Rouben Hakobian and Vartan Petrossian met with the Iranian ambassador to Armenia, Hamid Rezah Nikkar Esfahani, and vice-consul Majid Razavi on Thursday, February 13, 1997, at the Iranian Embassy.

The ARF representatives were invited to the Embassy to discuss Armenia-Iran relations. Esfahani said that the current state of bilateral relations were unsatisfactory despite efforts by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Hakobian outlined the ARF's views on Armenia's domestic and foreign policies, and discussed the ARF's reinstatement in Armenia and the National Accord's future plans.

The nearly one and a half hour meeting concluded with both sides stressing the importance of holding regular meetings.

ARF participates in SI meetings

Armenian Revolutionary Federation representatives Hilda Choboyan and Mario Nalbandian participated in the meetings of the Socialist International Women's Congress and the SI Council, respectively, which convened in Rome on January 20, 1997.

The two-day meetings focused on national rights within the ever-changing international political arena.

Nalbandian attended the SI Council meeting, where 1996 Nobel laureate Jose Ramos Jorta addressed the gathering.

"The international political reality has undergone a complete transformation. Tendencies to maintain the status quo have changed. Who would have thought that the great Armenian nation, after centuries of persecution, would regain control of its homeland Armenia?" Jorta said. He made similar remarks in his Peace Prize acceptance speech last December in Oslo, Norway.