ARMENIAN REVOLUTIONARY FEDERATION
Mher Lazarian 12/1, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (37410) 52-18-90, 52-19-66
Fax: (37410) 52-14-53
E-mail: intsec@arf.am
Website:

STATEMENT

The pivotal issue on Armenia’s political and state agenda in recent
months has been the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.

The ARF-Dashnaktsutyun has declared time and again, that
good-neighborly relations between the two countries can only be
established after the recognition by Turkey of the Armenian Genocide
and the restoration of the rights of the Armenian people. The lifting
of the blockade and the establishment of diplomatic relations, without
preconditions, can only serve as first steps on this path. It is
absolutely unacceptable for us that relations with Turkey be
normalized at the expense of Armenia’s sovereignty, the viability of
its existence, or the national and state rights of future Armenian
generations.

Deeply committed to these principles, we find unacceptable and condemn
the signing, by Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, of the April 22
joint statement with Turkey.

The statement comes on the eve of the commemoration, on April 24, of
the greatest tragedy of the Armenian people. The leaders of Turkey
have recently made anti-Armenian announcements in general and on the
Artsakh issue in particular, and have restated preconditions for the
normalization of relations. The release of the statement at this time
and in these circumstances is a blow to the interests of Armenia and
the Armenian people.

Noting that this process implies a negative change in the direction of
Armenia’s foreign policy, the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun will, in the coming
days, discuss the expediency of its continued participation in the
governing coalition.

ARMENIAN REVOLUTIONARY FEDERATION
23 April 2009

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress