AN OPEN LETTER TO THE ARMENIAN AMERICANS

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27 March, 2008

We read with interest the joint statement of the Armenian Assembly of
America, The Armenian General Benevolent Union, the Armenian National
Committee of America, the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern/Western) and the Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church
of America (Eastern/Western) regarding the recent events in Armenia.

We join them in expressing our heartfelt sympathies to all families of
the victims, condemn all violent acts and expect that the perpetrators
will be brought to justice.

We reaffirm our commitment to strive "toward our shared aim of
strengthening an open and democratic Armenian homeland, based upon
the rule of law, social and economic justice, freedom of expression
and the media, and equal opportunity for all".

However, we do not understand how these noble principles could be
justly served with simultaneously "cooperating with the newly-elected
President and the government", when we have all witnessed how, for
the past 10 years, the latter have trampled those same principles.

How can we expect "rule of law" from these authorities, when they have
repeatedly violated the constitution by rigging the presidential and
parliamentary elections, falsified the constitutional referendum and
have made a mockery of the Oct. 27 legal proceedings, just to name
a few.

What kind of "social and economic justice" can we expect from these
authorities when they have created a class of oligarchs by usurping
the rights of their citizens, and monopolized the economy.

What kind of "freedom of expression and the media" can we expect from
these authorities, when they have banned independent TV stations from
the airwaves, established a public TV reminiscent of totalitarian
regimes.

What kind of "equal opportunity for all" can we expect from these
authorities, when they have unjustly exploited the resources of the
country, leading to a deep mistrust between them and ordinary citizens.

A country, where the authorities capriciously violate the law, trample
justice, and usurp the rights and freedom of its people cannot be an
inspiration to its citizens or to the Diaspora. Rather than using empty
rhetoric, we should steadfastly uphold he aforementioned principles
for the sake of an independent, democratic and prosperous Armenia.

Armenian Council of America, March 26, 2008