ARF MARKS 117TH ANNIVERSARY OF FOUNDATION

Yerkir
12.12.2007 12:57

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – The Armenian Revolutionary Federation marked the
117th anniversary of its foundation on December 11 at the Spendiarian
Theater of Opera and Ballet.

ARF Bureau member and presidential hopeful Vahan Hovhannesian said
it has been celebrated everywhere with Armenian communities worldwide.

ARF Supreme Body of Armenia representative Armen Rustamian said that
"one thing is clear: the ARF is an established political force"
that has made the authorities to reckon with it when in opposition
and not to be considered as the same with the authorities when part
of the government. "There is only secret to this: the ARF is a party
that belongs to the people and not only to its members," he said. He
added that the party stands ready to face all the challenges of the
Armenian people.

Addressing the attendees, Vahan Hovhannesian, spoke about the history
of the ARF, saying that the party, only years after its foundation,
succeeded to found organized political thought, Armenian armed forces
from fidayee groups to a regular army and to reestablish an Armenian
statehood after six centuries. He said those 117 years were not only
the ARF years but also important sections of our people’s history.

"The ARF is the force that together with the others should work for
eliminating the poison and hatred from the Armenian political life,"
Hovhannesian said. "We won’t let for the demolition slogans become
dominating in our society. Similarly, we won’t let the authorities
to feel relaxed, when they think that everything is fine, and that
everybody smiles."

He added that it would be wrong to think that one party can resolve
all the problems. "This requires efforts of all the nation," he said.

The political statements were followed by a concert. In addition,
a film about the ARF’s history was screened.