ARF "Soghomon Tehlirian" Gomideh
September 10, 2009
Contact: Shahen Mirakian
Tel. (416) 491 2900
Public Gathering of Toronto Armenians Discusses Armenia and Turkey Protocols
Toronto, ON – Over four hundred members of the Toronto Armenian
community gathered at the Armenian Community Centre on Friday,
September 4, 2009 to learn more about the recently negotiated
protocols for the normalization of relations between the Republics of
Turkey and Armenia and to protect the rights of the Armenian people.
The public gathering was jointly organized by the ARF `Soghomon
Tehlirian’ Gomide, the Social Democrat Hunchak Party Canadian Regional
Executive and the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party Canadian Regional
Executive.
The gathering featured a video presentation of Mr. Hagop Der
Khatchadourian, Member of the ARF Bureau providing background on the
protocols, expected future developments and the risks involved in the
ratification of the protocols. Following the video presentation, the
evening’s Master of Ceremonies Mr. Hagop Tchakmakian introduced Mr.
Levon Hasserjian, who spoke about the threats posed by the protocols
to the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the rights
of future generations of Armenians and the continued existence of the
Nagarno-Karabagh Republic and it’s people’s right of self
determination.
Following Mr. Hasserjian’s presentation, the floor was opened to
questions. The questions and comments were generally reflective of
the genuine worry of Toronto Armenians about the policies of the
current Armenian administration in pursuing relations with the
Republic of Turkey and the price that the Armenian people would pay
for these decisions.
In order to ensure that the concerns of Toronto Armenians were
presented to the Armenian authorities, it was decided that a formal
protest declaration should be prepared by the attendees of the
gathering and formally presented to the government of Armenia. After
much discussion, the attendees agreed on the following declaration:
`Provisions in the Protocols indicate preconditions set forth by
Turkey and conflict with the interests of Armenia and Armenians on the
whole. The project obviously tends to prevent the restoration of
historical rights and rupture Armenians. Ratification of the
Protocols by the countries’ parliaments will be a deterrent for
Armenians to claim their ancestral land as well as recognition of the
Armenian Genocide (at that all achievements on the international level
will be jeopardized). In addition, the possibilities of Armenia to
negotiate on Karabakh peace process will be limited.
This project arising out of its authors’ interests is full of
dangerous consequences for the centuries-long struggle of Armenians
for independence. We, participants of the meeting call Armenian
Authorities, National Assembly and Armenian nation to reject the
project will all preconditions and pursue the policy of preconditions’
exclusion in normalization of bilateral relations.’
The attendees also promised to keep abreast of further developments
regarding the protocols and to stand firm against any attempts by the
government of Armenia to imperil the future of the Armenian people.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
