WHAT RAFFI HOVANNISIAN AND OTHER LEADERS IN ARMENIA MUST DO
By David Boyajian

11 September 2009

The Armenian Weekly in its August 31 issue reports, "David Boyajian,
long an advocate for civil rights among Armenians, will be formally
recognized by the Lowell ‘Aharonian’ ARF Committee…. [He] will
be singled out for his untiring efforts against the Anti-Defamation
League’s (ADL) denial of the Armenian Genocide and efforts to prevent
its acknowledgement." "The recognition is part of a celebration
surrounding the establishment of a New Independent Republic" and will
take place on Oct. 4 at the Saint Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church
in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.

Like many others who are critical of the recently announced Protocols,
Boyajian has shown his disapproval. There are many ideas that are
floating around of how to neutralize their effects and ultimately
annul them.

Boyajian has his proposal outlined in this brief.

I am hoping that Raffi Hovannisian, a member of the Armenian parliament
and the founder of the Heritage Party and ACNIS, takes these actions:
1. Resigns from the Parliament (as is reported that he will).

2. Announces that he will be a candidate for President of Armenia in
the next election.

3. Announces that if elected President he will ensure that the
so-called Turkish-Armenian "Protocols" — if passed by the Armenian
Parliament, as is widely expected=2 0to happen — are declared illegal,
invalid, and void because:

A. The current "President" and his so-called "Parliament" were
"elected" through illegitimate, rigged elections, and, therefore,
their decisions are illegitimate and illegal;

B. The Protocols contradict the legitimate national rights of the
Armenian people;

C. The Protocols contradict existing treaties and international law
regarding the genocide of the Armenian people by Turkey, as well as
Western Armenian territory, reparations, restitution, and the rights
of the Armenian people.

If Raffi Hovannisian – and, hopefully, other officials and political
parties – does all of these things, it will throw a monkey wrench into
the Protocols process and galvanize the Armenian people in Armenia
and throughout the world.

Hovannisian will outflank Armenia’s external adversaries as well
as those within Armenia who have abused their power and usurped the
rights of the people.

Hovannisian will be serving notice that the Protocols themselves are
dead and that Parliament’s passing them is, therefore, an exercise
in futility.

Hovannisian may even be elected the next President if he makes these
courageous moves. In any case, he will have made a firm and principled
stand, something that cannot be said of many other leaders in Armenia
thus far.