ARF Bureau chairman calls for national unity
ARF’s Yerkir to resume publication in April
ARF launches website

ARF delegation visits Karabakh

STEPANAKERT — An ARF delegation headed by ARF Bureau chairman Peno Tontian and composed of ARF representatives from Armenia and the Diaspora visited Nagorno-Krabakh on the invitation of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh authorities. The delegation, accompanied by ARF Karabakh representatives, took part in the official festivities marking the 10th anniversary of the Karabakh movement. The ARF Bureau and ARF Karabakh representatives held meetings with NKR president Arkadi Ghougassian and other Karabakh officials as well as visiting Russian politicians and intellectuals, including General Lebed.

ARF Bureau chairman calls for national unity

Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutiune Bureau Chairman Peno Tontian, addressing the gathering, stated that even though Armenia has won its own place in the world community over the past years, the Armenians of Karabakh have removed a hostile yoke and the Armenian army has been established, there have been serious deviations from the path of strengthening the unity of the Armenian people that was highlighted in 1988 as the basis of national values.

According to Tontian, the national unification process has been hindered in the past several years as national wealth was plundered, and dialogue between the authorities and the opposition became impossible.

Tontian felt that the past two years could be regarded as a serious trial for Armenia. “By suspending the ARF’s activities, arresting and convicting freedom fighters, the policies of the authorities reached their climax and quickly led to self-isolation — a deviation from the path of national values — which not only jeopardized national accord but also negatively affected our country’s international prestige,” he said.

The Bureau Chairman expressed his confidence in the continuos struggle toward national principles and values declared ten years ago.

Tontian suggested that the national strategy should encompass modern systems to prevent Armenia from being hostaged and challenged by regional forces. According to him, the Armenian national struggle will progress if national unity is strengthened, if law and democracy are deemed supreme, if the process of regulation and management of the socio-economic life of the country are based on the principles of accord and justice, and, if human rights, political freedom and the principle of balance-of-power are respected.

“Our long-standing national liberation struggle shows that the guarantee of protection of the rights of Armenians and their country is in the unification of our forces,” Tontian hailed the solidarity of different political forces in the effort to restore national unity, which offers the nation an opportunity to hold free and fair elections.

“I am sure that from now on, people in Armenia will not be imprisoned for political purposes and that we have created a truly democratic state,” representative of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Executive Council of Armenia Vahan Hovanessian said at the gathering.

Hovanessian said that the ARF’s goal is not to come to power, but to achieve moral influence in the population. “We have managed to keep ARF’s name untarnished, and we’re going to proceed with our struggle,” Hovanessian said.

Hovanessian reproached all those who claim that Robert Kocharian’s nomination for president is illegitimate, stressing that the same people who once renounced the Constitution are using it as reference.

“It is time to stop alluding to our weaknesses. We must use the power of the Armenian people. I do not imply military power. We’re living in this region and no question can be resolved without taking into consideration Armenia’s or Karabakh’s viewpoint. We must have respect in the region,” Hovanessian concluded.

Press conference

YEREVAN — During a press ocnference held on February 27, ARF Bureau chairman Peno Tontian and ARF Bureau political representative Garo Armenian discussed the ARF’s position regarding the presidential elections.

Tontian also said it is necessary to amend the Constitution to balance the legislative and executive branches of power. He stressed the importance of adopting a new constitution. According to him, the ARF Bureau attaches great importance to the formation of a new Armenian Parliament.

Speaking about foreign policy issues, Armenian said that change of “paradigm” in the region would force Russia and the United States to revise their policies in the region and take a more positive attitude toward Armenia’s interests.

Public rally

To mark its re-registration in Armenia and to give apublic account of activities from December 1994 to January 1998, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation held a public rally at Liberty Square on February 26, attended by thousands.

ARF Executive Council of Armenia member Vahan Hovanessian said that despite the fact that former authorities had suspended the activities of the party and imprisoned its members, “Ter-Petrossian is leading an easy life now and no one will dare commit any illegal act against any former official. In the name of law and justice, we will not seek revenge.”

ARF’s Yerkir to resume publication in April

YEREVAN — Moushegh Mikaelian, the newly-appointed Editor-in-Chief of Yerkir daily newspaper, the official organ of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Executive Council of Armenia, reported that the newspaper will begin publication in April.

The newspaper was shut down immediately following the now infamous December 28, 1994 decree by then president Levon Ter-Petrossian, suspending the activities of the ARF in Armenia. Then Mikaelian was the editor of the ARF Bureau’s Azatamart weekly in Armenia, which also was shut down following the crackdown on the ARF. Currently, there are no plans to resume Azatamart’s publication.

Following his appointment as Armenia’s Prime Minister, Robert Kocharian allowed the publication of Hayots Ashkhar as ARF’s unofiicial daily in June 1997.

ARF launches website

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation recently launched its website , which is aimed to bring the activities, policies and history of the party closer to Armenians worldwide and the international community.

The website’s contents are currently available in English and Armenian, however, website administrators expect to expand the service to French, Spanish and Russian.

The site also offers links to various other organizational sites, including Asbarez and Horizon/Gamk websites, offering daily news in English and French respectively.