It is necessary to counter the active Turkish-Azeri propaganda
Editorial

Yerkir.am
March 16, 2007

Representatives of Moscow, Canada, Cyprus, Scandinavian and South
American Hay Dat Offices stated at the press conference held yesterday
in Urbat (Friday) Club that the Hay Dat Offices in the countries they
represent are trying to counter the increasingly active Turkish-Azeri
propaganda.

However, the assistance of the Armenian government to raise the
efficiency of the Hay Dat Offices’ work is needed, representative of
the Hay Dat Moscow Office Yura Navoyan stated.

`It is necessary to create a state coordinating council,’ Navoyan
said. He believes the ambassadors representing Armenia in foreign
states should be more active. Participants of ARF’s Hay Dat conference
met representatives of the Armenian Foreign Ministry and an agreement
was reached to work in this direction.

Aris Papikian representing Canada also spoke about the necessity to
further activate the ambassadors. The ambassadors of Turkey and
Azerbaijan in Canada exceed the limits of their authority as
ambassadors and actively participate in anti-Armenian initiatives
organized by the Turkish-Azeri community.

Canada recognized the Armenian Genocide in 2006 but it is still
necessary to counter the denial propaganda launched by the
Turkish-Azeri community. The Hay Dat Office in Canada recently managed
to prevent an anti-Armenian conference.

In the countries that have already recognized the Armenian Genocide
the Hay Dat Offices work on different levels supporting the Karabagh
issue, Javakhq, activation of economic and political relations with
Armenia.

Representative of Hay Dat Office in Scandinavian countries Syuzan
Khardalian noted that their Office’s work is very difficult especially
in Sweden since the Armenian community is not very large. She also
pointed out these countries ‘ support for Turkey that has historical
roots. Khardalian said the Armenians that came to Sweden from Armenia
are not very active as opposed to the Azeris that came to Sweden from
Azerbaijan and Iran.

Hakob Manukian representing the Hay Dat Office in Cyprus noted that
their Office is not facing the task of Genocide recognition. `Cyprus
is one of the first countries that recognized the Genocide. Our work
today is aimed at lobbying through the European Parliament for all
issues connected with Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh,’ Manukian said
adding that one of their goals is activation of political, economic
and cultural ties between Armenia and Cyprus.

Gevorg Dolmajian representing the Hay Dat Office in South America
noted that as opposed to Sweden, there are old Armenian communities in
Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina. These communities have worked actively
to support the Hay Dat cause. `The greatest success of the recent
years was recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Argentinean
President that gave the Genocide recognition the force of a law,’
Dolmajian said.

Are the efforts to counter the Turkish-Azeri propaganda successful? If
yes, what are the problems the Armenian lobbying structures are
facing? Khardalian representing the Hay Dat Office in the Scandinavian
countries noted that the Armenian lobbying organizations have learned
working like the Hay Dat Offices. `We should not forget about the huge
resources that the Turkish and Azeri communities have. So we have
reasons to worry, but we should create the necessary structures to be
able to work actively,’ Khardalian noted.

Yura Navoyan also believes that there is no reason for panicking:
every state is trying to protect its interests. `Azerbaijan is doing
so at the state level, working through its embassies. We also need a
comprehensive state program that would allow us to coordinate our
efforts,’ Navoyan said.

Papikian noted that the Hay Dat Offices have one advantage. `We have
the just cause and we believe in it. The Turks and Azeris are doing
this for the sake of their profit while we have firm beliefs and
principles.’

Representatives of Hay Dat Offices spoke about the relations between
the Armenian communities and other minorities in the countries they
represent. They all noted that the relations with other ethnic
minorities are very active. Papikian pointed out the close
cooperation with the Kurdish, Greek and Jewish communities in
Canada. Khardalian pointed out the cooperation with the Assyrian
community in Sweden.

By Karine MANGASSARIAN