EVENT MARKING ARF’S 116TH ANNIVERSARY HELD IN SEVAN

Yerkir.am
December 08, 2006

An event to mark the 116th anniversary of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation was held on December 3 in Sevan. ARF Supreme Body of Armenia
representative Armen Rustamian welcomed those present and spoke of
the great role the national party plays in the Armenian society.

"Dashnaktsutiun is a national party; it belongs to the people and not
only to its members, and it was established by the people 116 years
ago when there was a need for it," Rustamian said, adding that the
people needed an organization for their unresolved issues, and the
ARF was established.

The ARF was established in 1890 when, for centuries, we had no
statehood, and only by establishing a sovereign state could we settle
our other issues.

Even though an independent state was established on only one part
of our territories in 1918, but it was very crucial to have an
independent state.

"The ARF has passed a long way; on that way it has had many problems
and overcome many barriers, and has managed to keep its own face,"
Rustamian said, noting also that the party has always felt the support
of the people, which in its turn, has always felt the support of
the ARF.

Nothing can be done without the support of the people.

Rustamian said that the ARF has lives so long because of its ideology,
but ideology alone is not enough. "If the means to bring the ideology
into life are not in place, the ideas would become abstract and far
from reality," Rustamian said. "Ideology alone means nothing."

The ARF members have always fought to strengthen our statehood and
realize our centuries-long ideals.

However, despite its stormy past and present, the ARF has not yet
reached its final goals, Rustamian said. Our people faces many
issues today. "We have not yet created our Free, Independent and
United Armenia. Our predecessors have passed their ideas through
generations to keep the vision of the Free, Independent and United
Armenia alive. After resolving our issues in full, we will start
talking about development projects," said Rustamian in conclusion.

During the event, remarks about the ARF by Khrimian Hayrik, Nikol
Aghbalian, Garegin Hjdeh and other great Armenians were presented.

The "Sayat Nova" group as well as other performers performed during
the event.

The Sevan event was the first in the series of events marking the
116th anniversary of the ARF; similar events will be held in other
regions of Armenia.