ARF-Dashnaktsutyun Press Office
Mher Lazarian 12/1, Yerevan, Armenia
Mailing Address: P.O.Box 123 – Yerevan, Armenia 0010
Tel.: (37410) 52-18-90, 52-19-66
Fax: (37410) 52-14-53
E-mail: intsec@arf.am
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Press Communiqué
The ARF-Dashnaktsutyun Bureau held its plenary session in Beirut,
Lebanon, during November 29-December 1.
The agenda included the approval of plans based on
proposals-decisions of previous plenary sessions, the evaluation of
completed activities, forthcoming organizational and public relations tasks,
the discussion of internal and external challenges facing Armenia.
The plenary session discussed the new situation in the South
Caucasus, the tasks to be undertaken by the party, its affiliate
organizations and the Armenian Cause offices in defending the statehood, and
the immediate steps to be taken regarding the Artsakh issue, the recent
developments in Armenian-Turkish relations, and the international
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
It was reiterated that the final settlement of the Artsakh issue is
possible only through peaceful negotiation process, where the Republic of
Mountainous Karabakh is a negotiating party.
Considering that following the Moscow Declaration Azerbaijan has not
backed down from its warmongering rhetoric, it is extremely important to
continue keeping the issue on the pan-national agenda, as an issue related
to the existence and security of Armenia and the Armenian people. For us,
the basis of the negotiating process should be the fact of
self-determination by the people of Artsakh, expressed on two occasions,
through the 1991 independence and 2006 MKR constitutional referendums. The
mutual concession can only be equal, proportionate, and concurrent and part
of a comprehensive settlement package.
Reaffirming that as neighboring states Armenia and Turkey should
continue their efforts towards normalizing relations, it was stressed that
thus far Turkey has not taken any positive steps. On the contrary, there are
attempts to use the ongoing meetings as hindrance to the genocide
recognition process, and make the relationship of the two states conditional
to Armenia’s relations with a third state, namely Azerbaijan.
In this context, it was appreciated that the highest authorities of
our country are in complete accord that the recognition and condemnation of
the Armenian Genocide in general, and by Turkey in particular, is one of the
strategic directions of Armenia’s foreign policy. On the other hand, it was
stressed, that the present importance of regulating Armenia-Turkey relations
should not be valued more than the rights of generations to come.
Decisions were adopted regarding all the discussed issues, always
based on the party’s fundamental policy, that the foremost issue for the
ARF-Dashnaktsutyun is ensuring the independence, security and utmost
self-reliance of the Republic of Armenia.
ARF-Dashnaktsutyun Press Office
Yerevan, 2 December 2008