HEIRS OF WESTERN ARMENIANS TO CONVENE CONGRESS IN PARIS

YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS: Karen Mikaelian, the chief editor of two
Russian-language Moscow-based magazines, Armyanskiy Vestnik (Armenian
Herald) and Grazhdanin (Citizen), has assumed the initiative for
organization of the third congress of Western Armenians (Armenians who left
their homes in eastern regions of modern Turkey during World War I to escape
the genocide), which is supposed to take place in Paris. There were two such
congresses, the first was in 1917 and the second in 1919, both were held in
Yerevan.
The main objective of the congress will be to form a National Assembly
and a National Council to represent the interests of a new generation of
Western Armenians’ successors dispersed around the globe. The two bodies are
supposed to bring together the Armenian Diaspora’s entire potential, to
develop and carry out all-Armenian programs and initiatives, to promote
building of stable, safe and dynamically developing Armenian state, to seek
for the most effective mechanisms to support Armenians’ interests worldwide.
Some 500 prominent Armenians from all Diaspora communities, politicians,
representatives of the three, so-called ‘traditional Armenian parties’-the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation/Dashnaktsutyun, the Henchak (Social
Democratic) and Ramkavar Azatakan (Liberal Democratic), heads of
non-governmental organizations are expected to participate in the gathering.
Mikaelian argues that it would be unjust to expect the Republic of
Armenia to lay territorial claims to Turkey, that would create tension. He
says this should be done by the heirs of the genocide victims, spread all
over the world.
The congress is expected to specify next steps of Western Armenians in
terms of what is known as “Armenian Cause.” Meliksetian says establishment
of bodies representing the interests of Western Armenians’ successors would
give an opportunity to make a distribution of labor among various segments
of Armenians.
He emphasized programs aimed to prevent assimilation of Armenians in
foreign countries, preservation of their national identity, language and
culture, to press for international recognition of the 1915 Armenian
genocide together with Armenian lobbying organizations.
The two bodies will be authorized to conduct talks with Turkish
government on condemnation of the crime, compensations of damages incurred
by Armenians, as well as seeking permission for those Armenians who would
like to return to their ancestral land.